Any reason why

[Norman]

29 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

So basically our top 3 can't bat out of heir comfort zone, when the time comes they'll fail as usual & our middle order won't get enough game time so they'll flop as well. Our only hope is bowlers but even there a par total is what we're unlikely to chase in a KO, bat first & score big is the only way we'll win any of the important games.
 

There's no need for them to bat out of their comfort zones. If they are/have been performing at their best while playing in the top 3, why should they be demoted down the order? 

 

And what do you mean  " they will fail as usual" ?  The only time our top order failed collectively was in the CT final. Apart from that they've done their job in all other important games like CT SF ( where they chased 260 without breaking a  sweat), WC 2015 (India were 75-0 at one point, it was MO of Raina, Rahane, Dhoni who couldn't capitalise). 

[R!TTER]

They failed in QF, SF 2015 WC. The no ball which Sharma got out on was 50/50 any other day & he'd be out & us knocked out by Bangers.

2 minutes ago, Norman said:

The only time our top order failed collectively was in the CT final.

Did you miss the last 1 year, when we failed to chase relatively mediocre totals against good bowling sides or put up below par totals on flat roads? The WC brings its own set of pressure & while our bowling might cope, or it may not, the middle order will absolutely be shot in a tough chase. Which is why Kohli at 4 is a better choice with his ability to rotate strike.

 

5 minutes ago, Norman said:

India were 75-0 at one point, it was MO of Raina, Rahane, Dhoni who couldn't capitalise

And what was the RR then? You think India could defeat Aus in Aus by playing safe & taking it deep? Why do you think one of our greatest chase in a WC, vs Pak 2003, needed a blitzkrieg at the top? The best way to chase high scores in tough games is to get ahead of the rate - 99/100 times you'll fail if you fall behind of just keep up with it.

[Norman]

28 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

The no ball which Sharma got out on was 50/50 any other day & he'd be out & us knocked out by Bangers.

Lol how did you just assume that? There was no way Bang were going to chase anything above 230 , and we would have comfortably got much more than that even if Rohit was out on that no ball. 

 

30 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

Kohli at 4 is a better choice with his ability to rotate strike

And what makes you think Rahul can't rotate strike ? He is very good in attacking the spinners , which will be critical in the middle overs. 

 

Well all in all , it all boils down to one thing - 

Kohli at 3 & KL at 4 >>>> vice-versa. 

[Suhaan]

Virat should be a floater between 3and 4 position

[Suhaan]

For me if we start with a bang,i would really endorse Rahul at 3,given the form he is in currently,but problem with Rahul.is he can get out of form any moment,

But if we see our openers sent cheaply ,we should  have Kohli at 3,i think this will be a norm as I don't think Rohit is consistent enough he may blow hot and cold though

 

[raki05]

4 hours ago, Gollum said:

Cos they are selfish af. 

yes people have complained in past how sachin was selfish as he never left his number 4 position for anyone. So what about the world most aggressive player who is only designed to play at no:3 . I think major downfall of our odi team is also because of our top 3. they have never given chance to any other batter to set in, they played every dam single match irrespective of whether it was against bd, wi or nz. Atleast in the past the most successful opening combination of ganguly and sachin has given away their position time and again in odis for others to settled in.

Edited May 6, 2019 by raki05

[vvvslaxman]

8 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

For me if we start with a bang,i would really endorse Rahul at 3,given the form he is in currently,but problem with Rahul.is he can get out of form any moment,

But if we see our openers sent cheaply ,we should  have Kohli at 3,i think this will be a norm as I don't think Rohit is consistent enough he may blow hot and cold though

 

Here is the problem. If he flunks there TM will be crucified. You cannot take a punt with Kohli at all. He owns this position. 

[R!TTER]

No one owns a position, better players than Kohli have come & gone - done more than him for the team's cause, have also performed better than him in WC. If he's just a one trick pony the world will remember him like Dhoni - selfish, except with any major silverware!

Edited May 6, 2019 by R!TTER

[vvvslaxman]

26 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

No one owns a position, better players than Kohli have come & gone - done more than him for the team's cause, have also performed better than him in WC. If he's just a one trick pony the world will remember him like Dhoni - selfish, except with any major silverware!

WHo is that better player that came and gone as a no.3 batsman

 

[vvvslaxman]

Kohli has 34 centuries at no.3 KL Rahul has not proved anything yet. It is just based on a whim. No logical reason or justification to push him to no.3. Either an opener or at 4. Opening spot Rohit/Dhawan. He is not going to get it.

 

His scores after zimbabwe series are

 

8, 5, 11, 4, 17, 7, 9*, 0, 60 (afghanistan), 26.

 

Against English Lion unofficial ODI series 2018/19

 

3 matches  55 runs 18.33 average s strike rate 53.39

 

 

[Forward Defence]

Rahul has only played 11 odis since the beginning of 2017. MSK Prasad had declared before the SL series that rahul would be tried at 4. He was selected for 4 games and got to bat thrice, each time falling to Dananjaya. Given the fact that India romped to victory in all these matches inspite of Rahul's failings would suggest that the team had the capability to give him more opportunities to do better. But our team management thought differently. Rahul goes missing from ODIs for almost a year while we try others like Iyer,Pandey,Rahane and even Pandya at no 4. Rahul goes bonkers in the 2018 IPL and quickly finds himself back in the side. Scores a T20 century in England and makes it back to the ODI side. Scores 9* in a winning effort and then gets a duck next match. Selectors jump to the conclusion that he is no number 4 and drop him for the last ODI. Gets to play only two more ODIs in the span of a year while we try Rayudu and others. Now that the WC2019 is upon us and with V Shankar's indeifferent form, Rahul is increasingly looking like the only viable option at 4. Poor,poor handling by our management.

[R!TTER]

You're still counting useless bilateral centuries as a measure of greatness? Going by that logic Sharma is the best opener ever, except we all know he's not even in the top 3, talk about WC & Kohli's performance - or lack of it in there!

[vvvslaxman]

4 hours ago, R!TTER said:

You're still counting useless bilateral centuries as a measure of greatness? Going by that logic Sharma is the best opener ever, except we all know he's not even in the top 3, talk about WC & Kohli's performance - or lack of it in there!

All teams are selected based on bilateral tournaments not based on World cup as it comes only once every 4 years.

[R!TTER]

So why are you showing career stats for WC performances @3 surely knocks on the grandest stage count for so much more?

[vvvslaxman]

5 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

So why are you showing career stats for WC performances @3 surely knocks on the grandest stage count for so much more?

It matters because he is a proven performer there for years. With KL Rahul you are basically taking a chance. If it doesn't come off and Kohli's effectiveness goes down it will be a double blow. This team is still largely kohli dependent. He should get max overs without facing new ball. So best spot is no.3  Didn't we see in the recent England series?

[putrevus]

Wonderful logic yes scoring 100s against Nambia and Kenya  in world cup should count more than scoring runs against SA in SA.

[R!TTER]

Which recent series - 2018, also what do you think will happen when 2 of the top 3 get out cheaply?

[Norman]

5 hours ago, R!TTER said:

You're still counting useless bilateral centuries as a measure of greatness? Going by that logic Sharma is the best opener ever, except we all know he's not even in the top 3, talk about WC & Kohli's performance - or lack of it in there!

I agree.  We should completely ignore bilateral performances and select only the ones who performed at the WC. 

So this would be my team

 

Sachin Tendulkar

K Srikanth

Rahul Dravid

Mohinder Amarnath

Yuvraj Singh

Navjot Singh Sidhu

Kapil Dev

Roger Binny

Zaheer Khan

Anil Kumble

Chetan Sharma

 

If their old legs and arms and shoulders flex well enough, this team should win the world cup easily. 

Edited May 7, 2019 by Norman

[R!TTER]

If only some of these players were actually playing. But obviously many of you are dancing around our middle order problems - 4 or below, the solution to which is a rookie opener shoehorned into number 4 (or Shankar?) Dhongi & whatever else we have left after this IPL, including Dud 

[vvvslaxman]

9 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

If only some of these players were actually playing. But obviously many of you are dancing around our middle order problems - 4 or below, the solution to which is a rookie opener shoehorned into number 4 (or Shankar?) Dhongi & whatever else we have left after this IPL, including Dud 

NOthing is shoehorned. He even said Rayudu would be our no.4 an year back. Now he is not even in the squad. Kohli being an impatient guy may sit Shankar the entire tourney out. Rahul will bat at 4. That is not a bad spot to be honest coming after world no.1 no.2 no.13 batsman.