Jump to content

'Ready to lose a few games if we need to try out something

Stuge

By Stuge
in Cricket Talk

Recommended Posts

Stuge Proficient

Stuge

Posted
Posted



It's almost nine years to the day that Virat Kohli, a sprightly teenager fresh out of a successful Under-19 World Cup campaign, made his ODI debut for India in Dambulla. Now, he returns to the same venue as India captain, looking to build on a series of impressive results in recent times, but with an eye on the 2019 World Cup, which is little under two years away.

The five-match series that starts on Sunday is crucial for Sri Lanka, who need two wins to ensure direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup. For Kohli, though, the priorities are to have a group that can embrace different challenges and push themselves to the limit in their quest to find the best possible set of players for that World Cup.

"For us, it's about the time frame and not the opposition," he said on the eve of the first ODI. "Now is the time, you have to give players time in certain roles to get into the groove and understand what we need to do in reaching that World Cup. It's about when you want to start giving roles to players and start experimenting as a team. We get carried away sometimes with Team India's expectations, and you have to win every game, that we don't fall away from pattern.

"As a group, criticism will come along the way if you try things and lose. But we should be ready to embrace challenges, take risks and [be] ready to lose a few games if we need to try out something. We're comfortable as a team with starting those things off, trying things in different ways. Things will happen. We need to start making the effort now because eight to ten months down the line, we will be solid in our roles."

Before that can happen, India will need to identify different players for different roles. Among the batsmen auditioning for middle-order berths will be KL Rahul and Manish Pandey, now that Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik have been left out. Rahul's consistency across formats before his shoulder injury means he's likely to slot in straight away, barring injury or illness. Pandey, who has been shunted up and down the order, may have to continue to adapt even if he's coming off a dream run during India A's tour of South Africa, where he made scores of 55, 41*, 86*, 93* and 32* in a successful campaign. Pandey's presence in the squad could put Kedar Jadhav, the incumbent No. 6, under a bit of pressure to maintain his recent run of ODI form with bat and ball.

"We feel KL [Rahul] obviously is such a solid player. Before injury, he'd done well in all three formats. It was unfortunate he missed out, and Manish got chances. KL will definitely play in the middle order," Kohli said. "We're not going to be predictable or have a set pattern any more in terms of what we want to do in ODIs and T20 cricket.

"Anyone could go anywhere. That's what we are looking to do. Someone like Manish, he's done well, grabbed his opportunities. He's got a hundred in Australia. We know about his talent, what he brings, super-fit guy who has a bright future ahead of him. He will certainly be backed. All three guys will have to compete for two spots, there are no guarantees for anyone. As long as there is healthy competition, everyone would keep pushing each other and it will only benefit Indian cricket."

The one thing Kohli categorically stated, though, was that Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma would be the first-choice openers, even though Ajinkya Rahane finished India's last ODI series, in the West Indies, as the highest run-getter. For now, Rahane may have to bide his time for opportunities, with Kohli confirming he would be the side's back-up opener.

"It's a pecking order you need to look at. Shikhar was not the mix of things till a few months back, but when he comes back, you've seen what he can do. It becomes tough to understand what you can do in that situation," Kohli said. "He came and got Golden Bat in the Champions Trophy, he's continued his form and won two Test matches with the bat. So he's an impact player, we all know that. Shikhar and Rohit, what they've done in the past together, we understand their potential also. Jinx understands that. At this stage, he's the third opener.

"We will back him there, because he's been shifted around a bit in the batting order which is not healthy for a guy who likes to open in the shorter format. But he's grabbed his opportunity in West Indies where he was Man of the Series. So he continues to be in the set up. When you get larger number of chances depends on players' form. He's much more relaxed after the West Indies series.

 

 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/20386856/ready-lose-games-need-try-something

Link to comment
express bowling Grand Master

express bowling

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, rkt.india said:

What risk? There is no Pant. No new players.

 

The just-finished A-tour performers,  Pandey, Shardul, Axar and Chahal are in the squad.   

 

Pant underperformed both on that A tour 50-over matches as well as the domestic 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.  He is doing well in the 4-day games and T20s so far.

Edited by express bowling
Link to comment
rkt.india Grand Master

rkt.india

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, express bowling said:

 

The just-finished A-tour performers,  Pandey, Shardul, Axar and Chahal are in the squad.   

 

Pant underperformed both on that A tour 50-over matches as well as the domestic 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.  He is doing well in the 4-day games and T20s so far.

except Shardul, none uncapped player.

Link to comment
express bowling Grand Master

express bowling

Posted
Posted
Just now, rkt.india said:

except Shardul, none uncapped player.

 

Krunal, Shankar and Iyer are the ones who look ready for ODIs, among uncapped players.

 

Krunal is injured and Iyer and Shankar would learn more, playing 4-day matches in SA.

 

Rahul, Pandey, Kuldeep,  and Chahal, although capped, are fairly new to ODIs too, and would bring youth and freshness in our ODI team if tried.

 

Shardul is uncapped.  

 

5 players in all  who would qualify as young and fairly new to ODIs.

 

 

Link to comment
jf1gp_1 Mentor

jf1gp_1

Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

except Shardul, none uncapped player.

Sure no new faces but in terms of bowling,  a lot of them now become first choice which is different .Chahal kuldeep and axar dont have a ashwin or jadeja to fight against for place. Batting will look the same only change will be rahul for yuvi . Lets see if Manish gets a few games though dont see him playing in first few games.

 

I wonder if the risk is kedar as keeper.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...