Team India's Three Main Strengths: Personnel, Game Plan, & Adaptability

[profster]

Sports isn't science and neither is it art. More of a craft with innate talent, training, mastery, temperament and fortune contributing to outcomes.

I LOVE how Team India has progressed over the decades (I began watching cricket from 1983 and have vivid memories from B&H World Championships).

 

We have a great talent pool, ODI squad selections are very fair (test playing XI is another matter), this CWC Playing XI selections have been consistent and in line with the conditions (weather and pitch) and the opponent.

 

Game Plan is tried and tested and adaptive. Dhawan is the enforcer and Rohit is the anchor. Now Rohit is the enforcer and KL is the anchor. Kohli bats through in the middle at 70-90 SR initially and then ramps it to 140-160 SR in the last 10 overs. Pandya has a license to hit and Dhoni's role is stem a collapse, accelerate in the death, and/or to finish the game. Shankar's role is to play a proper number 4(see Dhoni) in and Jadav's role is to play to the situation.

Losing Bhuvi yesterday was a big blow but it helped that it was against Pakistan who would have collapsed even if Dhoni, Rohit or Kohli had to bowl. No panic and no drama. Very professional outfit.

 

I think Kohli's fits of friendliness with PAK players has to do with (a) his being mindful of our legends' cordial relationship with PAK players (Sunny, Vishy, Kapil, Sachin, Dravid, Kumble, Saurav etc all had excellent relationships with PAK players of their eras), and of course (b) personal branding and market considerations.

 

As for some of the resident experts here, there are different playing philosophies and strategies in Cricket just like in any other team sport and you can't expect India to imitate England's philosophy and strategy. Pitches are already getting a bit a turn and come July, it wouldn't be strange to see England go down chasing on a pitch with a bit of turn.

 

 

 

[Khota]

Personnel is the only thing that works. Rest I have yet to see.

[mishra]

Kohli doesnt need to bend everytime we play Pakistan. Comparing current team India Rockstars who are respected among Aussies, Africans English Windies to that of ones who played in past who suffered humiliation at varying level (racial angle to it) is worst excuse.

 

BTW no player in that Pakistani lineup is worth remembering like the ones from yesteryear.

[profster]

5 minutes ago, mishra said:

Kohli doesnt need to bend everytime we play Pakistan. Comparing current team India Rockstars who are respected among Aussies, Africans English Windies to that of ones who played in past who suffered humiliation at varying level (racial angle to it) is worst excuse.

 

BTW no player in that Pakistani lineup is worth remembering like the ones from yesteryear.

Yes, particularly when you get this kind of active players currently:

 

[Ankit_sharma03]

1. Parampara

2. Pratishtha 

3. Anushasan 

[putrevus]

Indian team is looking good for only one reason, top three are delivering so far. Middle order yesterday including Kohli made 360 plus score into 330 that is still the biggest weakness.Bumrah is yet to find his form.

Edited June 17, 2019 by putrevus

[Ankit_sharma03]

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

Indian team is looking good for only one reason, top three are delivering so far. Middle order yesterday including Kohli made 360 plus score into 330 that is still the biggest weakness.Bumrah is yet to find his form.

I dnt see that as a big weakness.....360 will only happen on days when Pandya fires or rohit goes till end . Only those 2 have the skill to berserk at a level of freakiness 

Even at best dhawan n kohli will get u 340 most days . We shud not expect 360 everyday ......neither it will happen on such wkts every day in this Wc. We saw WI the powerhouse struggled to convert their start .

 

Also hadnt kohli walked out, we wud have gotten 10-15 runs more easily....which means 345-350....

 

Only england might do it with better consistency coz they bat till 10-11......that to we are yet to see them do in this Wc against Strong sides. 

 

Against SA they cudnt

Against Pak - they failed to chase

yet to play India, NZ, Aus

Edited June 17, 2019 by Ankit_sharma03