India set to discard five-bowler theory: Preview

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India may discard their five-bowler theory and recall Virender Sehwag when they take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday. More... February 18, 2008 13:18 IST With their campaign for a berth in the CB tri-series final thrown into jeopardy, India may discard their five-bowler theory and recall Virender Sehwag [images] when they take on Sri Lanka [images] in a crucial game in Adelaide on Tuesday. Stung by Sunday's debacle when the young batsmen failed to chase down a meagre target of 204 runs against Australia, India is likely to revert to its seven-batsmen format as they seek to put is across the islanders to revive their hopes of making it to the final. It brightens up the chance of Sehwag returning to the line-up as the dashing opener, more than his fitness, was removed for tactical reason in the seventh ODI against Australia. With hosts Australia virtually assured of a place in the final having bagged 17 points from five matches, much will depend on India's performance against the Sri Lankans in the day-night encounter. The Indians are in the second position on the points table with eight points from five games while Sri Lanka have six points from four matches. Sehwag has a bruise near his right shoulder but that alone was not the reason to keep him out of the playing eleven. Faced with a choice of dropping a batsman, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni [images] showed trust on out-of-form Yuvraj Singh [images] and Robin Uthappa but the plan came unstuck as the duo failed. India are likely to once again seek deliverance from the senior pros and it puts Sehwag firmly in the picture. Sehwag has not been in the best of nick in this one-day series but his association with Sachin Tendulkar [images] is key to India's plans. All the three teams have struggled to come to terms with the new white ball and bowlers of all the teams have had a field day. India needs its batsmen to fire big tomorrow if it has to hold back the charge of the Sri Lankans. The Lankans have won only one game but the equation is slightly in their favour going into Tuesday's match. Both sides need at least two wins under their belt but whereas India has just three games left of their lined up games, Sri Lanka has four matches to go for their desired wins. India is likely to add an extra batsman to the squad as the Adelaide Oval pitch is likely to get slower because of the persistent heat. The bounce, evident in Sunday's game, may not be as pronounced on Tuesday on the worn-out pitch. India is banking on Sri Lanka's batting to once again misfire as it has done all through the summer. But for Kumar Sangakkara, who has 132 runs from four games at average of 44, none of the other Lankan batsmen have scored even 100 runs from the competition so far. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene [images] has 63 runs from four games while Sanath Jayasuriya has 43 from equal number of matches. Sri Lanka's bowling, though economical, hasn't been as destructive as well. Lead bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas [images] have only six wickets between them and their averages of 58.66 and 60 also does not make it a pretty reading. Lasith Malinga [images], with seven wickets at 29 apiece, has been their stand-out bowler though against the Indians he went for 56 and 45 runs from 10 and six overs respectively. The conditions at the Adelaide Oval are expected to be blistering in terms of heat. The scorching sun of the last few days is unlikely to yield on Tuesday. Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would no doubt be looking to win the toss and post a big total to keep themselves in hunt for a place in the final. Teams: (likely) India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir [images], Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Harbhajan Singh [images], Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth [images] and Irfan Pathan [images]. Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Fervez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas.

[mhr123]

Drop Sreeshant and go with Munaf As MSD admitted "Munaf is a bowler who bowls according to the field which was important. He does not think too much. But with Sreesanth it is difficult when you need the bowler to bowl as per the field," We have seen Sree bowling below par in last 2 matches and u cannot drop Munaf after a good performance against Aussies... So i say play 4 bowlers Irfan , Bhajji, Munaf , Ishant. I believe Sree has attitude problem he talks more than his action speak

[bharat297]

No ... Id pick Sreesanth over Munaf, as Sreesanth has a bit more variety.

[diegovegaz]

sreesanth but he might lose his spot by the way he is bowling currently, but he is our 2nd spearhead, we cannot omit him munaf has no right 2 be in the team, sehwag must come back piyush chawla must also be there to support bhajji

[Anakin]

SS is more suitable for test matches than ODIs imo

[coffee_rules]

India do-or-die match. Lose it, we can saw bye-bye to CB series. Thanks to youth brigade we won one match atleast.:icflove:

[guju24]

They can still rest sehwag and bring raina back in open with Robin...but i still dont understand u they send pathan at #3 where they batsman capable of playing at #1@#3...

[msb1991]

but i still dont understand u they send pathan

Especially with his poor record batting three whilst chasing.

[fineleg]

India do-or-die match. Lose it' date=' we can saw bye-bye to CB series. Thanks to youth brigade we won one match atleast.:icflove:[/quote'] Letz see if youth brigade can win one more

[head coach]

As MSD admitted "Munaf is a bowler who bowls according to the field which was important. He does not think too much. But with Sreesanth it is difficult when you need the bowler to bowl as per the field," We have seen Sree bowling below par in last 2 matches and u cannot drop Munaf after a good performance against Aussies... So i say play 4 bowlers Irfan , Bhajji, Munaf , Ishant. I believe Sree has attitude problem he talks more than his action speak

You dont like him playing with passion and you call that attitude problem. Yes he bowled poorly last game but that doesnt mean the guy has lost it. I think Sehwag should come in for Munaf and Raina for Yuvraj.