Indian ODI team - buidling to WC in Aus

[shankycricket]

If he manages to stay injury free for that long, then maybe we can safely assume he'll be there for the WC and re-introduce him to the ODI setup.

[shankycricket]

In the batting dept, Kohli and Dhoni are indispensable and you'd think Dhawan should be there too unless things go horribly wrong. The rest of the spots are very much up for grabs IMO. Raina and Rohit deserve their spots atm but still have a lot to prove.

[shankycricket]

If he does well in the A games and the Challenger Trophy, I'd be keen to have Yuvi back in the side ASAP. The bowling option that he brings makes him all the more alluring IMO. He also makes picking 4 seamers easier.

[shankycricket]

Ideally in Australia, we should only play one of Yuvi and Raina at 5. If both are in form, I'd go with Yuvi.
I don't think either of them are suited to batting at no. 4 in those
conditions as a number 4 may often have to bat in the first 15 overs
when it nips around. A top order player like Pujara or Gambhir may be a
better option at 4 in those conditions.

[Red Devil]

I see Yuvi has gone back to 4 and Raina back to 5 - seems sensible at home. Still not sure omitting Pujara is a good tactic for the WC

[Red Devil]

For the bowling attack - are we looking at things in the wrong way?

maybe we need to recognise specialists more. For example, Umesh has been expensive in ODI's but looks like someone we should invest in for tests. Varun Aaron however, has an awful FC record but seems much better suited to ODI's. With spinners as well, Ashwin and Ojha for the tests, but I think Jadeja and Bhaji may be the better ODI option.

Bhuvi and Shami look like they'll be playing both test and ODi's. Zak also looks to be back in form so hopefully he'll come back into the test reckoning, although if fit he could make the Aus WC as well.

So that would give us Yadav, Zak, Bhuvi, Shami, Ojha and Ashwin for tests with Aaron, Bhuvi, Shami, Jadeja and Bhaji for the ODis + possibly Zak for the WC.

Rishi Dhawan seriously needs to be tried for India A at least. A seam bowling all-rounder who is 23 and already has well over 100 FC wickets at 24 and averages 44 with the bat - Ind can't afford to ignore a player like that. This was what i was saying about Bhuvi a year or two back, it seemed to take a while for the selectors to try him out as well. Basant Mohanty should really be given a proper go for india a as well.

[shankycricket]

Agree with most of what you have said, Red and glad you mentioned Rishi Dhawan. I was about to mention him on the domestic cricket thread as one who should be considered. He's having a sterling season (by far the leading wicket taker this season) and has done over the last couple of seasons as well. I think he should be given a go in the A team and ODIs. Eventually, could graduate to Tests too and could give us a seam bowling allrounder in overseas conditions but needs to be eased in through A team and ODIs.

I would also add Mohit Sharma to your list in both the formats. Has a superb FC record, bowled well in the ODIs in Zimbabwe and did well on flat pitches in the IPL too, was very consistent in matches when even his more experienced teammates were getting hammered. Definitely an option in ODIs and a good backup in Tests. Agree with Aaron for ODIs and Umesh for Tests. Though Aaron has done well so far this Ranji and could eventually become a good FC bowler too. But for now, I'd consider him for the shorter formats.

Practically looking at it, selectors will have Ishant involved in both the formats (I bloody hope not)

[andy]

Shanks, in your opinon is Rishi Dhawan good enough to bat 7?

[Red Devil]

Shanks, in your opinon is Rishi Dhawan good enough to bat 7?

would he need to - Dhoni at 6 and Jadeja at 7, with Dhawan at 8?

would be good if he could play some India A games to give us a better idea, but I think his domestic record suggests that he is better suited to the longer form of the game, and a FC batting average of over 40 would make him a very useful number 8.

[andy]

One thing that i think could annoy shanks is with, Ishan't good form in the tests in SA, will Dhoni now stick with him in odi's?!

[Red Devil]

India's ODI squad for NZ from cricinfo ...

MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron

In: Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron
Out: Yuvraj Singh, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav

That's not too bad a call - I have been saying for a while that i would like to see Aaron in for the ODI's and that Umesh is probably better suited to the longer form of the game. Pandey has probably earned his chance really, and he has extra height, which will give some variety as they will hopefully not pick Ishant. I really don't understand why ishant is still in the squad.

Stuart Binny is an interesting call, I'm not really convinced by him, and he doesn't have age on his side either - I think he's 30. Difficult to see how he merits selection ahead of Rishi Dhawan, even though I think Rishi may be better suited to the longer format. I wonder how much Binny's dad being on the selection panel had to do with this call.

[shankycricket]

India's ODI squad for NZ from cricinfo ...

MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron

In: Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron
Out: Yuvraj Singh, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav

That's not too bad a call - I have been saying for a while that i would like to see Aaron in for the ODI's and that Umesh is probably better suited to the longer form of the game. Pandey has probably earned his chance really, and he has extra height, which will give some variety as they will hopefully not pick Ishant. I really don't understand why ishant is still in the squad.

Stuart Binny is an interesting call, I'm not really convinced by him, and he doesn't have age on his side either - I think he's 30. Difficult to see how he merits selection ahead of Rishi Dhawan, even though I think Rishi may be better suited to the longer format. I wonder how much Binny's dad being on the selection panel had to do with this call.

Like the inclusion of Pandey and Aaron but the retention of Raina irks me. He has been as bad as Yuvraj, if not worse. And still no Pujara. And I have no idea how Ashwin is still in the ODI squad (or even the Test squad, for that matter). 1 wicket across 3 ODIs and a Test in SA on the back of a very poor ODI series vs Aus. Okay, he did well against a very ordinary WI batting lineup but surely time to give Bhajji or Ojha another shot at ODIs to partner Jadeja with Ojha covering for Jadeja in the Tests?

Binny over Rishi Dhawan is a classic case of nepotism in Indian cricket and preference to IPL performances over domestic performances.

[shankycricket]

MY XI from that squad :


Shikhar
Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
Rayudu
MSD
Jadeja
Bhuvi
Mishra
Aaron
Shami

[andy]

disspaointing that Rishi Dhawan isn't in that squad, and time is running out for him to impress ahead of the next world cup..

[Red Devil]

disspaointing that Rishi Dhawan isn't in that squad, and time is running out for him to impress ahead of the next world cup..

he should try and get a stint with one of the counties at the start of the summer, that might really help him get into the Ind side for the Eng tour