What is India's best XI in the knockout matches now - considering form and pitches ?

[express bowling]

For Knockouts Matches  ... 

 

1.  Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Hardik

5. Rahul

6. SKY

7. Jadeja

8. Shami

9. Bumrah

10. Kuldeep

11. Siraj

 

....  Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs. Dibbly dobbly Shardul won't suffice and 3 spinners are not needed either. 

....  Shami, Bumrah and Kuldeep can all bat a bit these days. So Shardul is not needed at 8. 

.... Rahul must stay at 5 to provide depth

.... Rest Siraj against Netherlands before the semis, as @Suhaan suggested, to freshen him up. Rest Bumrah too in that match. 

[SRT100]

8 minutes ago, express bowling said:

For Knockouts Matches  ... 

 

1.  Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Hardik

5. Rahul

6. SKY

7. Jadeja

8. Shami

9. Bumrah

10. Kuldeep

11. Siraj

 

....  Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs. Dibbly dobbly Shardul won't suffice and 3 spinners are not needed either. 

....  Shami, Bumrah and Kuldeep can all bat a bit these days. So Shardul is not needed at 8. 

.... Rahul must stay at 5 to provide depth

.... Rest Siraj against Netherlands before the semis, as @Suhaan suggested, to freshen him up. Rest Bumrah too in that match. 

Effectively same as mine, Pandya and KL just different spots. I think there is flexibility here depending on the state of the game. KL likely to come in earlier if we lose early wickets, even SKY would come ahead of KL if wickets are in hand till deep into the 40+ over mark.

 

I agree with the pacers, need 5 wicket taking bowlers that can genuinely win you the match on their own. Each of them has proven that they can. Weapons of Mass Destruction.

 

India's weakness definitely is the batting though. Gill not sure if 100% since Dengue and Kohli needs to perform in big matches against SENA teams. Otherwise we can lose wickets very quickly and early in an innings.

[NameGoesHere]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

For Knockouts Matches  ... 

 

1.  Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Hardik

5. Rahul

6. SKY

7. Jadeja

8. Shami

9. Bumrah

10. Kuldeep

11. Siraj

 

....  Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs. Dibbly dobbly Shardul won't suffice and 3 spinners are not needed either. 

....  Shami, Bumrah and Kuldeep can all bat a bit these days. So Shardul is not needed at 8. 

.... Rahul must stay at 5 to provide depth

.... Rest Siraj against Netherlands before the semis, as @Suhaan suggested, to freshen him up. Rest Bumrah too in that match. 

This looks good to me with the possible exception of Siraj / Ashwin. 

 

While I prefer three pacers (Bumrah/ Shami/ Siraj) over a three spinner (Yadav, Jadeja, Ashwin) attack, I’d still play both in the games up to the semis to take a final call.  

[Vickydev]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

For Knockouts Matches  ... 

 

1.  Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Hardik

5. Rahul

6. SKY

7. Jadeja

8. Shami

9. Bumrah

10. Kuldeep

11. Siraj

 

....  Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs. Dibbly dobbly Shardul won't suffice and 3 spinners are not needed either. 

....  Shami, Bumrah and Kuldeep can all bat a bit these days. So Shardul is not needed at 8. 

.... Rahul must stay at 5 to provide depth

.... Rest Siraj against Netherlands before the semis, as @Suhaan suggested, to freshen him up. Rest Bumrah too in that match. 

If Pandya can bowl, he could take the new ball possibly? Gives us a chance to play Ashwin in place of Siraj and strengthen the lower order

[express bowling]

2 hours ago, Vickydev said:

If Pandya can bowl, he could take the new ball possibly? Gives us a chance to play Ashwin in place of Siraj and strengthen the lower order

 

Pandya is unlikely to be fit enough to bowl fiery spells. Would lack match practice too.

 

It is unlikely that he can operate as a proper pacer in this World Cup.

 

We are seeing how the 3 fast bowler / 5 specialist bowler attack is making our bowling attack very potent.

 

We need 3 specialist pacers excluding allrounders. 

 

Hardik plays as 6th bowler.

 

Edited October 30, 2023 by express bowling

[deathmonger]

42 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

Pandya is unlikely to be fit enough to bowl fiery spells. Would lack match practice too.

 

It is unlikely that he can operate as a proper pacer in this World Cup.

 

We are seeing how the 3 fast bowler / 5 specialist bowler attack is making our bowling attack very potent.

 

We need 3 specialist pacers excluding allrounders. 

 

It won't happen. Hardik will come in for the semi and final.

 

No way India will play with the long tail.

[cowboysfan]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

 

Pandya is unlikely to be fit enough to bowl fiery spells. Would lack match practice too.

 

It is unlikely that he can operate as a proper pacer in this World Cup.

 

We are seeing how the 3 fast bowler / 5 specialist bowler attack is making our bowling attack very potent.

 

We need 3 specialist pacers excluding allrounders. 

 

I am totally against playing just 5 bowlers especially in the WC knockouts.what would have happened if Siraj gets injured in the semis?If Hardik comes back i would play him for Iyer and also Shami in place of Thakur.

[express bowling]

1 hour ago, deathmonger said:

It won't happen. Hardik will come in for the semi and final.

 

No way India will play with the long tail.

 

I have included Hardik in my preferred 11.

 

But can't expect him to bowl 10 overs with fire and accuracy. Need proper pacer for that.

 

Shardul has scored nothing in ODIs in the last 18 months and he bolsters our batting only in theory. 

[express bowling]

4 minutes ago, cowboysfan said:

I am totally against playing just 5 bowlers especially in the WC knockouts.what would have happened if Siraj gets injured in the semis?If Hardik comes back i would play him for Iyer and also Shami in place of Thakur.

 

That's my choice too.

 

Look at my preferred 11 in an earlier post. 

 

 

[Teengunalagaan]

Hardik in place of Iyer, Sky should stay in the team and Ashwin/Siraj depending on the conditions. 

 

However, most likely Sky will make way for Hardik. I am pretty sure Shardul will also make a come back once Hardik comes back. We all know how the TM works, I don't see that changing.

[NameGoesHere]

34 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

I have included Hardik in my preferred 11.

 

But can't expect him to bowl 10 overs with fire and accuracy. Need proper pacer for that.

 

Shardul has scored nothing in ODIs in the last 18 months and he bolsters our batting only in theory. 

I think most if not all of us are agreed that Shardul can’t be there. 
 

 

[AuxiliA]

The only major weakness we have is our poor batting depth. It can prove very costly if we lose too many early wickets. 

 

If Pandya is fit enough to bowl 10 overs in Knockouts we can have him in place of Siraj. This will strengthen our batting immensely without weakening the bowling much.

 

1. Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Iyer

5. Rahul(wk)

6. SKY

7. Hardik

8. Jadeja

9. Shami

10. Bumrah

11. Kuldeep

 

Jadeja is bowling well this WC. Has an eco of just 3.75, the lowest of all bowlers in this WC. He can complete his full quota.  Pandya is not far behind Siraj as an ODI bowler. 

 

 

[putrevus]

42 minutes ago, AuxiliA said:

The only major weakness we have is our poor batting depth. It can prove very costly if we lose too many early wickets. 

 

If Pandya is fit enough to bowl 10 overs in Knockouts we can have him in place of Siraj. This will strengthen our batting immensely without weakening the bowling much.

 

1. Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Iyer

5. Rahul(wk)

6. SKY

7. Hardik

8. Jadeja

9. Shami

10. Bumrah

11. Kuldeep

 

Jadeja is bowling well this WC. Has an eco of just 3.75, the lowest of all bowlers in this WC. He can complete his full quota.  Pandya is not far behind Siraj as an ODI bowler. 

 

 

We need to play this playing eleven once before semis maybe against SA.

 

Can Pandya bowl ten overs is the question.

[Suhaan]

Pandya can't bowl 10 overs,not at all now as he's coming back from injury

It's better to have Siraj than Shardul or Ashwin

Play Ashwin in place of Kuldeep against SA

[AuxiliA]

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

We need to play this playing eleven once before semis maybe against SA.

 

Can Pandya bowl ten overs is the question.

 

Yeah Pandya's fitness is the biggest concern, but he's a pretty decent ODI bowler not far behind Siraj. If he's fit enough, this XI gives us the best chance imo. Will boost our batting immensely. 2 genuine hitters at 6 and 7. Jadeja at 8.

 

Only problem is offcourse there's no 6th bowler to cover for injuries. But a gamble can be taken for a couple of matches.

 

 

[express bowling]

2 hours ago, AuxiliA said:

The only major weakness we have is our poor batting depth. It can prove very costly if we lose too many early wickets. 

 

If Pandya is fit enough to bowl 10 overs in Knockouts we can have him in place of Siraj. This will strengthen our batting immensely without weakening the bowling much.

 

1. Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Iyer

5. Rahul(wk)

6. SKY

7. Hardik

8. Jadeja

9. Shami

10. Bumrah

11. Kuldeep

 

Jadeja is bowling well this WC. Has an eco of just 3.75, the lowest of all bowlers in this WC. He can complete his full quota.  Pandya is not far behind Siraj as an ODI bowler. 

 

 

 

 

Not having a 6th bowling option, with a semi-fit bowler, is a big risk for KOs.

 

Even before his foot injury, Hardik did not look 10 over bowling fit to me. 

Edited October 30, 2023 by express bowling

[putrevus]

2 hours ago, AuxiliA said:

 

Yeah Pandya's fitness is the biggest concern, but he's a pretty decent ODI bowler not far behind Siraj. If he's fit enough, this XI gives us the best chance imo. Will boost our batting immensely. 2 genuine hitters at 6 and 7. Jadeja at 8.

 

Only problem is offcourse there's no 6th bowler to cover for injuries. But a gamble can be taken for a couple of matches.

 

 

If they are playing semis in Mumbai or Kolkata where grounds are small then I would take risk. We have 4 main bowlers and we need to find 5 overs from Iyer , Kohli and Rohit himself at least once before semis.

Edited October 30, 2023 by putrevus

[deathmonger]

I'd say ask the curators to add some turn to the pitch and add Ashwin. Ashwin is a genuinely good bowler when there is turn.

[prudent_kreeda]

8 hours ago, express bowling said:

For Knockouts Matches  ... 

 

1.  Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Hardik

5. Rahul

6. SKY

7. Jadeja

8. Shami

9. Bumrah

10. Kuldeep

11. Siraj

 

....  Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs. Dibbly dobbly Shardul won't suffice and 3 spinners are not needed either. 

....  Shami, Bumrah and Kuldeep can all bat a bit these days. So Shardul is not needed at 8. 

.... Rahul must stay at 5 to provide depth

.... Rest Siraj against Netherlands before the semis, as @Suhaan suggested, to freshen him up. Rest Bumrah too in that match. 

 

 Very good cricketing logic in this selection . Even i had made a case for such an Xi in an earlier post .  

This is the important part - " Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs" 

We do not need naam ke waaste pacers . We need 3 Top rung wicket threatening Pacers  and we have  3 in Boom, Shami,Siraj - all top international quality. When all 3 attack relentlessly, the pressure will bring wickets as batters do not have an easy bowler in mind to target even before match starts .  

Only thing expected now is ,Siraj maintains pressure with good control if he is not getting swing.

Captain can do a minor change -  Ask Siraj to bowl 2 overs upfront to check if there is swing with a deep cover fielder. If no swing - get him bowl as third seamer after 11-12 overs . He can bowl decently in 2nd PP overs . 

He is below par so far in WC  but one should take a bet on  an international top 10 pacer with a BIG heart possessing real good skillsets to come good . Hope he is not carrying  niggle.  He has 2 weeks to work on his consistency. 

 

People seem to have forgotten how well he bowled in One dayers in the last 1 year , that proves he has as much skill to take out a wicket as other pacers.

Re: Gill - many seem to think that Gill's position is shaky. No not at all - TM is not stupid to discard such a talent , but yes need to watch out  for that delivery bowled by Wokes. I think Hazelwood, Rabada & Cummins are capable of bowling such deliveries . Need to get through first 6-8 overs .

Re: Hardik over Iyer - 2 reasons 

1- Serious weakness vs Short ball by  Iyer. You cannot be a pure batter in WC team with such glaring weakness.

2- Option of 6th bowler .

Just think over-  who is better player of Pace and who gives 6th bowling option?.  Hardik or Iyer ?

Re: SKY VS Ishan  - SKY gets the nod looking at probable Pace heavy bowling in later part of of the innings by AUS, SA, & NZ.  Cummins , Hazlewood , Starc ( except very good yorker ) are not great death bowlers with very good deception. Same goes for - Henry, Boult ,Ferguson(not sure if he is fully fit), And SA - Rabada, Coetzee , Ngidi bowls good pace change ups but not very consistent . Against them i see SKY a better option than Ishan.

But SKY needs to ensure he will not get out to Zampa, Santner .Teams will keep couple of overs by them when they meet India in later part of the innings.

SKY also be ready to get more slower balls - now most of the bowlers will try to bowl slower cutters and slower bouncers and try to bowl outside off stump. SKY need to discard his airy shot over Cover Point, third man region . He was out twice in WC so far - to Rashid in WCt20 and yesterday. Need to tweak his game and try to play rather straight over the off rather than that airy shot over point/thirdman.

He needs to play  smart cricket looking at what bowlers trying against him and play accordingly nullifying their plan. 

 

[Lord]

9 hours ago, express bowling said:

For Knockouts Matches  ... 

 

1.  Rohit

2. Gill

3. Kohli

4. Hardik

5. Rahul

6. SKY

7. Jadeja

8. Shami

9. Bumrah

10. Kuldeep

11. Siraj

 

....  Need 3 proper pacers on any kind of pitch for ODIs. Dibbly dobbly Shardul won't suffice and 3 spinners are not needed either. 

....  Shami, Bumrah and Kuldeep can all bat a bit these days. So Shardul is not needed at 8. 

.... Rahul must stay at 5 to provide depth

.... Rest Siraj against Netherlands before the semis, as @Suhaan suggested, to freshen him up. Rest Bumrah too in that match. 

 

Hardik will be the 3rd pacer. If he's not fit then Siraj can play. In any case Shami should take new ball.