sandeep Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 He has to EARN a test cap. Pujara has earned it - he deserves a proper run. Current Flavors of the month don't just automatically get Test caps like that - or shouldn't anyway.
Sooda Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 He has to EARN a test cap. Pujara has earned it - he deserves a proper run. Current Flavors of the month don't just automatically get Test caps like that - or shouldn't anyway. Virat is hardly 'flavour of the month'...he is a bit younger so has done less of the hard yards at Ranji and A team level than Pujara but...aside from proving himself at ODI level- so we know he is international class- the guy does have an FC average of 58 and his FC tons include one agst the touring Aussies for a BP XI side in 08...he certainly has shown more aptitude for the longer game than Raina or Yuvraj prior to their test debuts. I do feel Dravid should have retired and Virat come in the lineup...
Cricket Tragic Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 He has to EARN a test cap. Pujara has earned it - he deserves a proper run. Current Flavors of the month don't just automatically get Test caps like that - or shouldn't anyway. Huh? He has been part of a successful U19 WC team, done brilliantly in first class cricket, done very well on the 'A' tour of Australia and taken every opportunity in the ODI team (even being the best performer in SA where others failed). You can't guarantee that anyone will be a success but he has certainly done enough to earn a test cap. I think that Pujara should get an extended run at number 6 but Kohli is next in line for me. He should be picked in the team as the reserve batsman.
Chandan Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 He has to EARN a test cap. Pujara has earned it - he deserves a proper run. Current Flavors of the month don't just automatically get Test caps like that - or shouldn't anyway. Virat is hardly 'flavour of the month'...he is a bit younger so has done less of the hard yards at Ranji and A team level than Pujara but...aside from proving himself at ODI level- so we know he is international class- the guy does have an FC average of 58 and his FC tons include one agst the touring Aussies for a BP XI side in 08...he certainly has shown more aptitude for the longer game than Raina or Yuvraj prior to their test debuts. I do feel Dravid should have retired and Virat come in the lineup... He has not done any less at the A level. Go and check who was the player of the tournament in the Emerging players tournament that is held in Australia every alternate year. Virat was the stand out player there in 2008 and we have a link discussing that tournament here on ICF. You can search for it. He smashed Lee, Johnson and co for a century when they visited India in the BP XI vs Australia match and after those outstanding List A and FC performances only he got a break in ODI team where he has proved himself in nearly every opportunity given, home or away, against world's best pace bowlers on seam friendly tracks in SA as well as against world's best spinners on turning tracks in SL. And I'm not saying that he needs to replace Pujara. I'm talking about him playing along with with Pujara, if a vacancy appears.
Karan114 Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 Virat is hardly 'flavour of the month'...he is a bit younger so has done less of the hard yards at Ranji and A team level than Pujara but...aside from proving himself at ODI level- so we know he is international class- the guy does have an FC average of 58 and his FC tons include one agst the touring Aussies for a BP XI side in 08...he certainly has shown more aptitude for the longer game than Raina or Yuvraj prior to their test debuts. I do feel Dravid should have retired and Virat come in the lineup... Absolutely, there is no basis to say Pujara has earned his Test cap any more than Kohli (not that Pujara is undeserving of his chance - he certainly is). As you say, neither Raina nor Yuvraj even have great FC records (by the standards of Indian FC cricket).
achilles Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 When Raina starts playing Test cricket in South Africa against the likes of Steyn and Morkel, everyone's gotta be fancying their chances.
Vijay.Sharma Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Virat in the Test squad I was thinking of responding in the Rahul Dravid post but I think this deserves its own consideration hence decided to start this thread. Have been watching this boy mature as a cricketer, and as a batsman....technically brilliant...alright he is no Buddha or Lax or Rahul but he is better than Viru technically...definitely as good as Gauti. And he has the maturity to go with it too...I think after Badri, Virat deserves a place in the Test squad...not Raina not Yuvi...especially on the English tour. Today's game relaxed a couple of doubts of his batting abilities for me. Alright Rahul Sharma is no Jumbo but the way he bowled today was too good...he had Dilshan, Gayle, and AB confused but Virat played him brilliantly. There was one especial ball which was so perfectly played...I am telling ya this guy is Test quality. The ball comes with a good high loop and pitches on leg. Now Rahul Sharma was getting deadly bounce and Virat had already hit him for a 4 in that over but this one turned ever so slightly and Virat played, with such perfection, one of the most difficult shots to play for a right hander: a forward defense on leg stump with bull coming from a right arm leggie over the wicket and turning from the leg stump. The guy dead batted it with the surety of Rahul and the elegance of Lax and the perfection of the Buddha. I wanna see him in the Test team...even ahead of Badri Edit: Of course, seeking your thoughts pls...
Cricket Tragic Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Absolutely. He should be the reserve middle order batsman and in the 11 if Pujara fails. However, reports suggest that Yuvraj might be back in the test team :facepalm: There was huge criticism when he was picked for SL in 2008 but Vengsarkar saw something in him. Even Kohli said that he was shocked to be picked. The best thing about him, apart from his game, is that he has taken every opportunity that has come his way.
Number Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I think this is the best time Virat Kohli should make his test debut. He is in top form. The way he builds his innings , shows he can be a very good test batsman. I admit there is no match of Dravid when it comes to spending time on the pitch. but Virat can consistently provide 80-90 or more odd runs and can make opposition to go on back foot. Till now what I've seen of him , his way of pacing his innings ,on-side stroke play ,consistency, aggression and concentration reminds me a lot of Ricky Ponting.
The Dark Horse Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Kohli/Badri/Pujara are all pretty good, depends on who is the luckier of the three. At the moment its Pujara who is ahead.
CoverDrive Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 he has very good temprament and someone like gambhir who is willing to improve his technique. He has to play in WI.
Karan114 Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I am not so sure on Kohli What are your reservations about him?
Blueraphael Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Post SA series, Kohli has emerged as one of the top contenders for a test spot. Before that, I wasn't too convinced about him as a player in the longer format. Anyway, I suppose he has to wait 1 more year for either Laxman or Dravid to retire. Pujara deserves a decent run, so I am not in favour of bringing in Kohli as a replacement for him. Badri should also be one of the contenders. He is one of those players who have gotten a very raw deal. He had the bad luck to be in the same generation as the Fab Four. Maybe after Laxman??? He still has 5-6 years left in him, I suppose.
vvvslaxman Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Virat is even ahead of Pujara IMO for a test spot. +1
Cricket Tragic Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 :hmmm: Yes, if you had to pick one player now you'd pick Kohli ahead of Pujara but having picked Pujara first, I think he should play in the WI. If he fails, then Kohli can replace him.
Karan114 Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I'm also in favor of Pujara getting the WI series with Kohli stepping in if he fails, but wouldn't be overly fussed if Kohli got in first because he is ripe for Test cricket. The bigger concern is that Yuvraj's selection seems certain for the WI Tests in which case neither Pujara nor Kohli will be playing bar injuries.
express bowling Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 Kohli should be the first to get the no.6 slot even if the the 3 greats are playing, ahead of Raina, Yuvraj or Pujara because -- 1) He can play both pace and spin well. In the last SAF tour he is the only yougster who looked in control against quality fast bowling on bouncy tracks. This trait is perhaps the most important for become a good test batsman. His plays a good pull shot. 2) He has the hunger for runs and consistency -- as he has displayed in the ODIs with an average of 44.4, 5 centuries and almost 2000 runs in only 54 ODIs, although he is not an opener. This is very important in tests. 3) He has a reasonably good technique which, though not absolutely essential, helps a lot. 4) He is a stroke maker who rarely slogs for his runs. As fast run getting is becoming increasingly important in tests so that there is time to win, someone who can accelarate without slogging can be a great assset. 5) His temperament looks good and he has already played many good innings under pressure and won matches for India. This bodes well. 6) He is in great form currently. We should not waste it.
vvvslaxman Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 More importantly Virat Kohli has excellent stage presence. He looks so confident out in the center.
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