2019 World Cup: Challenges ahead for Captain Kohli

[GolGappe]

2019 World Cup: Challenges ahead for Captain Kohli

 

Virat Kohli has recently completed 50 ODI’s as skipper of India. The results are mighty impressive. They’ve won every 4 out of 5 ODI’s with Kohli as skipper. They have been dominant at home, had a great run in Champions Trophy, and treated RSA like a school team in RSA’s own backyard. Bowlers have finally figured out how to take wickets during the middle portions of the game, Captain possesses two skilled slog-over bowlers, and a very confident all-rounder who brings lot of balance to the side.

 

However, the side is far from perfect article and this article highlights some of the areas that India needs to be improve on before World Cup. Normal wisdom suggests you want every player to have minimum 30-50 ODI’s under their belt prior to World Cup but I disagree. Good players will shine regardless. New players bring bit of a mystery and new levels of energy for high-octane tournaments. India’s IPL tournament prepares these players for big stages and selectors shouldn’t put too much emphasis on experience factor.

 

Lower/Middle order

 

India’s top 3 are arguably collectively biggest batting threat in one-day cricket but as the final of the Champions Trophy demonstrated if these three go cheaply, India’s lower middle doesn’t look capable of mastering tricky chases. To be honest, the top 3 have enjoyed the best of batting conditions and hogged majority of the strike preventing lower middle order from getting valuable match experience.

 

Number 4 and 5 spot in one-day line-ups are still up for grabs. KL Rahul is still trying to figure out his role in ODI set-up. Raina is a fighter but he is technically limited.

 

The tail is a bigger worry. With the exception of Bhuvneshwar, India have three genuine number 11 batsmen. In this era of batting deep, India over-relies on the top 7 for bulk of heavy lifting.

 

Elephant in the room

 

Any sane selection committee would have ensured Dhoni is collecting his pension by now but he is guaranteed a spot in final XI for the World Cup. Given his street smartness, surprisingly he has been a constant no-show in recent past and has frustrated fans on several occasion by ignoring the match situation in trying to bat himself in.

 

India’s reluctance of dealing firmly with fading stars puts inexperienced selection panel in bit of a quandary. As IPL and other tournaments showed, there are potentially 2-3 very strong wicket-keeping candidates available should Team Management desire them.

 

The entire Indian cricket fraternity worships Dhoni and you can be assured the wise old wizard will retire on his own terms.

 

6^th Bowling Options

 

When fully fit, India is fortunate to have 5 genuine wicket-taking options but there will be times when 1 or 2 of these bowlers will have an off day and a 6^th option will come in handy. Suresh Raina is the only certified pie-chucker in the side but India can use someone who is bit more reliable with the ball as 6^th bowling option. Krunal Pandya offers that option to India but it’s hard to see conservative Indian panel considering someone like Krunal Pandya to fill this important role.

 

Back-up Bowling Options

 

The current back-up options haven’t been that impressive. I can’t imagine the Kauls, the Sirajs, the Thakurs, and the Unadkats of the world winning games on their own. Agreed, they have been up against brutal batting orders on very flat pitches but none of them have demonstrated that X-factor that bowlers need in this era of flat pitches, mighty bat, and smaller grounds. Umesh Yadav bowled some vicious spells in IPL but lacks that consistency. Shami has fitness and personal issues to deal with. Varun Aaron is not even on selector’s radar. Under present system, Mavi, Nagarkoti, Khalil and Rajpoot will probably have to put on impressive performances for 12-18 months to get a look in.

 

Conclusion

 

The purpose of this article is not to paint an overly negative or depressing picture of current state. Like India, all other teams are also facing their own unique set of challenges. England lacks world class bowlers and will be under massive pressure to #BringItHome. Australia have serious re-building to do after Sandgate disaster. RSA is dealing with ABD’s retirement and return of Amla to more mortal form. NZ is like Belgium (Football Team) of cricket. A guaranteed semi-final pick but lack that firepower to go all the way. Pakistan and WI possess several match winners but do blow hot and cold. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have serious issues of their own.

 

Here is hoping team management and selectors are paying attention to few minor issues and ensuring India goes all-prepared into the mighty important tournament.

 

 

 

[Trichromatic]

Posted on home page

 

http://www.indiancricketfans.com/articles.html/2019-world-cup-challenges-ahead-for-captain-kohli-r87/

[sourab10forever]

Great article @GolGappe

That's the first one under our write-a-thon challenge.

[Khota]

Here is my summary.

 

(1) Top  5 bats for India are the best in the world. Raina/Rahane and couple others could be the part of a rotation.

 

(2) Bowling is fine as there are 4 strike bowlers. Any proper bowler could do the job.

 

(3) Pandya is neither a batsman or a bowler. He consistently conceded the most runs. That slot should go to a strike bowler.

 

(4) DK should replace Dhoni like yesterday.

 

(5)  There should be a separate coach for this format. Shastri is not going to do it.

 

(6) Kohli needs to be relieved of captaincy. 3 formats 3 captains. Every captain will give opportunity to a different player and that will find a hidden gem.

 

(7) None of this will happen and we will have a captain laughing like a bufoon after losing to Pakistan.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ankit_sharma03]

49 minutes ago, Khota said:

Here is my summary.

 

(1) Top  5 bats for India are the best in the world. Raina/Rahane and couple others could be the part of a rotation.

But only our top 3 is soughted....who are the other 2

Rahul is yet to establish himself in ODI's 

 

u want rahane to be a part of ODI setup 

49 minutes ago, Khota said:

 

(2) Bowling is fine as there are 4 strike bowlers. Any proper bowler could do the job.

We lack backups 

 

[Khota]

13 minutes ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

But only our top 3 is soughted....who are the other 2

Rahul is yet to establish himself in ODI's 

 

u want rahane to be a part of ODI setup 

We lack backups 

 

Out of 7 bats India can pick 5 and they can dominate. With current form Rahul will be fine. Kohli needs to quit dicking around with his order.

Managed correctly there are plenty of bwlers. I rather go with 3 spinners and two pacers. No need to feed them pace. And all bowlers should be frontline strike bowlers. No utility part time stuff.

 

& Raina was not the problem. Top 7 bats are about the same. Rahane would have been fine too.

 

 

[zen]

Too late to make wholesale changes. Have to back most of these players 

 

• Batsmen: Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul and Kohli 
• All rounder: Hardik 
• Bowlers: Bumrah, Bhuvi and Kuldeep 

 

Question Marks:

• WK: Dhoni, DK or Pant (this needs to be evaluated). However 2019 WC would be seen as Dhoni's swan song so nothing can be done here 
• 1 bowler slot: Chahal or other spinner or seamer 
• 1 batsman / AR slot: Since we have Hardik, may be also being in someone like Krunal, who also seeks to give his 100% on field 

 

Likely 11

• Dhawan
• Rohit
• Kohli
• Rahul 
• Dhoni / DK / Pant 
• Hardik
• Krunal
• 4 bowlers 

 

 

[PSB_Zone]

Third seamer.. I think sami can still be our third seamer if he hits the gym and stays away from the troubles of personal life. 

 

Either play both the wrist spinners if wicket assists spin or play one and another krunal pandya to strenthen the batting. 

 

I am not sure abt raina at that position.Better of playing pant. 

IF WICKET falls early move rahul to 3 or else sent kohli

 

Rohit/dhawan/kohli/rahul/pant/Hardik/krunal/bhuvi/kuldeep/shami/bumrah

 

Umesh/chahal/Kartik/Jadhav

Edited July 15, 2018 by PSB_Zone

[philcric]

Kohli

 

[philcric]

Wrogn selections.

 

Edited July 15, 2018 by philcric

[asterix]

Kohli
 

Exactly...

One of the main issue is his captaincy... is he competent enough to take his own decisions or will bank heavily on Dhoni?

Of whatever I’ve seen, he’s very reactionary on his field settings and gets rid of slip fielders at the first opportunity...

His team selection too is questionable.

Good article by OP...

[Dil Dil India]

Kohli will not drop Dhoni. We have to accept that he will be there till the WC.

 

Our team should be:

1) Shikhar Dhawan

2) Rohit Sharma

3) Virat Kohli

4) MSD

5)L.Rahul

6)Finisher - DK/Raina/Jadhav/someone but not Pandey

7)Pandya

8)Bhuvi

9)Bumrah

10)Chahal

11)Kuldeep

Shami or Yadav can replace one of the spinners if the pitch so demands it.

[Lala]

I think biggest challenge he has how to not take in Dhoni the colleague/best friend to the team. Dhoni never had injuries and still fits as a stone 

[Sgattick10]

Kick kohli out of captaincy.

[Ankit_sharma03]

his own patience

[Jimmy Cliff]

On 7/16/2018 at 3:44 AM, philcric said:

Kohli

 

Under-rated post.

[Singh bling]

Kick oldies out.Look at Fifa WC , big names fell .Youngsters of France outplayed most.Whether it is cricket or football , golden rule is old war horses never deliver.

[Straight Drive]

Rubbish and most biased captain ever in Indian cricket history. Doubt we will ever win a WC under him. Even winning T20 cup will be a challenge with such ridiculous bias in team selections. He is not fit to be a good man manager or lead a team at country level.