With India's lacklustre performance in the recent Bangladesh tour and rising demand for rest by regulars of the team, it may be the right time for Indian selectors to take a look at available options for the Indian National Cricket Team.
Opening is a constant problem for India since ages now with slump in the form of either Rohit Sharma or Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit Sharma has a ODI average of 28.4 from his last 9 innings (if his knock of 137 in the WC quarter final is excluded). Even with sound batting technique one cannot ask for a permanent place in the Indian ODI team without solid regular performances. Usually Sharma gives an exceptional knock once in a blue moon thus extending his time but has even failed to do so in the recent Bangladesh tour with scores 29,0,63 in ODI and a score of 6 in the lone test. Despite being a star in T20 cricket Rohit Sharma does not have the credentials to be in the team given his form. Instead selectors should opt for more experienced and out of favour Gautam Gambhir.Gambhir had a decent Ranji season in 14-15 and was the highest run scorer for Delhi with an average of 43.76 in 9 innings. Moreover he has ample of experience which Indian Team would require in absence of regular players. Indian selectors has always been shy of left handed opening combination which is highly successful worldwide given the example of Gilchrist-Hayden, Gayle-Chanderpaul, Saeed Anwar- Aamir Sohail.
The very important No 3 spot has two contenders in Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara with both being very solid performers and players with ability to build long innings. Rahane gets the advantage with a superb performance in the IPL where he was very successful while batting on top of the order, where he gets time to get settled and gradually accelerate his innings.
At No 4, Robin Uthappa can be considered being the highest run scorer in the Ranji season 14-15 , selecting Uthappa has an added advantage of him being a stand in keeper also he has experience playing at the top most level. He has represented India in more than 40 ODI matches.
The No 5 position should be given to Suresh Raina hands down. He is the only regular in the squad and performed brilliantly at the position in the 3rd ODI against Bangladesh. He has been consistent in his batting performance and even helped with the bowl at crucial moments.
At No 6, India needs a replacement for its skipper which may be in Sanju Samson or Parthiv Patel or Ambati Rayudu. Samson gets to be the pick of the lot with solid performance in IPL and as he has never been given the opportunity on this level. On the other hand Patel was significant for the success of Mumbai Indians and has represented India on the highest level.
At No 7 ,there is very little to choose from either Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel. Axar Patel can be given the preference over Jadeja as he has a more aggressive bowling style and both are equally compatible with the bat. Jadeja has not given any outstanding performance in the opportunities given to him and with Dhoni out of the side selectors can give him a rest for the series as it will be a weight off the shoulder of the stand in captain. Stuart Binny can be given the position if the captain is comfortable with only one specialist spinner and for other spin options rely on Raina.
At No 8, with Ashwin being rested for the series Harbhajan Singh will grab the opportunity with both hands . Things in favour of Harbhajan are his satisfactory performance in Bangladesh series and good outing in IPL and above all lack of other contenders.
At No 9, dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar can be considered given his satisfactory form and can be lethal if condition are in favour of swing. Zimbabwe batsmen will are not a expert in facing swing which is evident from their from Pak tour.
At No 10, Varun Aaron or Umesh Yadav are prime contenders. Both pack some serious speed in their bowling. Aaron can be given the opportunity given Yadav's ordinary performance in Bangladesh tour moreover Yadav may be skipped for the tour as he has asked for rest. Only other option available is Ishant Sharma who failed to impress on previous occasions.
At No 11, Dhawal Kulkarni or Mohit Sharma are the available options. Kulkarni was much more effective in the Bangladesh tour with decent economy on top of that grabbed wickets too. Again Stuart Binny can be considered for this spot if the captain is comfortable with only two specialist pacers. Binny proved to handy in bowling in Bangladesh and gives depth to the batting line up.
Ambati Rayudu, Cheteshwar Pujara , Rohit Sharma, Mohit Sharma,Yuvraj Singh can also be part of India A which has to face Australia A at the same time. Under the guidance of Rahul Dravid , Pujara is expected to lead the India A side.
So the expected team:
1.Shikar Dhawan
2.Gautam Gambhir(vice-captain)
3. Ajinkya Rahane
4.Robin Uthappa
5.Suresh Raina (captain)
6.Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper)
7.Axar Patel
8.Harbhajan Singh
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10.Varun Aaron
11.Dhawal Kulkarni
Extras: Mohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Parthiv Patel (if stand in keeper is preferred)or Yuvraj Singh(if an extra batsmen is preferred with Uthappa being the stand in keeper).
Opening is a constant problem for India since ages now with slump in the form of either Rohit Sharma or Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit Sharma has a ODI average of 28.4 from his last 9 innings (if his knock of 137 in the WC quarter final is excluded). Even with sound batting technique one cannot ask for a permanent place in the Indian ODI team without solid regular performances. Usually Sharma gives an exceptional knock once in a blue moon thus extending his time but has even failed to do so in the recent Bangladesh tour with scores 29,0,63 in ODI and a score of 6 in the lone test. Despite being a star in T20 cricket Rohit Sharma does not have the credentials to be in the team given his form. Instead selectors should opt for more experienced and out of favour Gautam Gambhir.Gambhir had a decent Ranji season in 14-15 and was the highest run scorer for Delhi with an average of 43.76 in 9 innings. Moreover he has ample of experience which Indian Team would require in absence of regular players. Indian selectors has always been shy of left handed opening combination which is highly successful worldwide given the example of Gilchrist-Hayden, Gayle-Chanderpaul, Saeed Anwar- Aamir Sohail.
The very important No 3 spot has two contenders in Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara with both being very solid performers and players with ability to build long innings. Rahane gets the advantage with a superb performance in the IPL where he was very successful while batting on top of the order, where he gets time to get settled and gradually accelerate his innings.
At No 4, Robin Uthappa can be considered being the highest run scorer in the Ranji season 14-15 , selecting Uthappa has an added advantage of him being a stand in keeper also he has experience playing at the top most level. He has represented India in more than 40 ODI matches.
The No 5 position should be given to Suresh Raina hands down. He is the only regular in the squad and performed brilliantly at the position in the 3rd ODI against Bangladesh. He has been consistent in his batting performance and even helped with the bowl at crucial moments.
At No 6, India needs a replacement for its skipper which may be in Sanju Samson or Parthiv Patel or Ambati Rayudu. Samson gets to be the pick of the lot with solid performance in IPL and as he has never been given the opportunity on this level. On the other hand Patel was significant for the success of Mumbai Indians and has represented India on the highest level.
At No 7 ,there is very little to choose from either Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel. Axar Patel can be given the preference over Jadeja as he has a more aggressive bowling style and both are equally compatible with the bat. Jadeja has not given any outstanding performance in the opportunities given to him and with Dhoni out of the side selectors can give him a rest for the series as it will be a weight off the shoulder of the stand in captain. Stuart Binny can be given the position if the captain is comfortable with only one specialist spinner and for other spin options rely on Raina.
At No 8, with Ashwin being rested for the series Harbhajan Singh will grab the opportunity with both hands . Things in favour of Harbhajan are his satisfactory performance in Bangladesh series and good outing in IPL and above all lack of other contenders.
At No 9, dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar can be considered given his satisfactory form and can be lethal if condition are in favour of swing. Zimbabwe batsmen will are not a expert in facing swing which is evident from their from Pak tour.
At No 10, Varun Aaron or Umesh Yadav are prime contenders. Both pack some serious speed in their bowling. Aaron can be given the opportunity given Yadav's ordinary performance in Bangladesh tour moreover Yadav may be skipped for the tour as he has asked for rest. Only other option available is Ishant Sharma who failed to impress on previous occasions.
At No 11, Dhawal Kulkarni or Mohit Sharma are the available options. Kulkarni was much more effective in the Bangladesh tour with decent economy on top of that grabbed wickets too. Again Stuart Binny can be considered for this spot if the captain is comfortable with only two specialist pacers. Binny proved to handy in bowling in Bangladesh and gives depth to the batting line up.
Ambati Rayudu, Cheteshwar Pujara , Rohit Sharma, Mohit Sharma,Yuvraj Singh can also be part of India A which has to face Australia A at the same time. Under the guidance of Rahul Dravid , Pujara is expected to lead the India A side.
So the expected team:
1.Shikar Dhawan
2.Gautam Gambhir(vice-captain)
3. Ajinkya Rahane
4.Robin Uthappa
5.Suresh Raina (captain)
6.Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper)
7.Axar Patel
8.Harbhajan Singh
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10.Varun Aaron
11.Dhawal Kulkarni
Extras: Mohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Parthiv Patel (if stand in keeper is preferred)or Yuvraj Singh(if an extra batsmen is preferred with Uthappa being the stand in keeper).
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