Pakistan in India 2012-13...

[NareshK]

Rahane should be in. Uthappa is only good for T20s and not ODIs. Gambhir is a good ODI player despite a few bad performances. Sehwag is finished IMO. Unless the wicket is a complete batting paradise, he will struggle.

[Magneto]

I know man .Robin once said in a press conference he is willing to stand in front of a truck for ms dhoni' date='and thats what dhoni asks of histeammates.Good old days so much hope i had from dhoni.[/quote'] Why would Uthappa stand in front of a truck for Mrs Dhoni? :hmmm:

[msb1991]

msb with Sehwag's each innings, its becoming quite apparent that he has almost lost it especially against better bowling units. He doesn't seem to be too keen to work on his game / fitness either. Only time he looks like scoring big runs is on absolutely dead wickets. In nearly all of his recent ODI knocks, he has hardly looked out of touch but has played lazy shots and thrown it away. With seniors around and the team doing well, those shots and cute 20s-30s were valuable, but with a younger middle order it's not going to work anymore.

I don't think you can judge the difference between a batsman having 'lost it' or is in bad form. I think externally, the two look identical. Shot selection is as much a part of form as anything else. I don't think there is a feasible argument to be made that a 'lazy shot' is indicative of a batsman who has 'lost it' rather than one who is out of form. I'd say it is equally a feature as what can be described as "[looking] out of touch]". Sehwag between 2008-2011 was in some of the greatest form ever seen to ODI cricket. Therefore, one bad year is not due cause to drop him, especially where he is scoring quickly and has made two vital 30s and a 90 - all innings which helped win the match. You say the quite 20s and 30s were valuable with the seniors around. However, recent years have shown Sehwag scoring more like 40s and 50s on a regular basis - which are valuable to any team in an ODI. He's obviously not totally averse to the big score either, but I can accept he does not do that with consistency. I think it is fair to look to blood in the likes of Uthappa, Rahane, Pujara and Yusuf Pathan (another I feel has been treated poorly) but I think the one who must be under most scrutiny is Rohit Sharma. He provides neither a good average nor a good strike rate. It is out-dated thinking that assumes he can convert his T20I and FC form to ODI cricket, when it has been proved to be a format that he is not good at. Rohit is a similar case to Sehwag but different in crucial ways. Rohit was good in 2011. He averaged 55.54. However, in 2012 he has been abysmal, much worse than Sehwag - averaging 12.92. Sehwag's good form was over a longer period and even in his bad form, he retains the ability to play a match winning cameo (or longer knock such as his 90 against Sri Lanka). Rohit strikes at 66.93 this year and 77.93 over a career - not good enough. I think Rahane and Rohit are similar. I think they are both suited to Test and T20 and not the middle-man that is ODI cricket. However, Rahane should certainly get a long go to prove me wrong. I think Uthappa and Yusuf must be tried at 6 and 7 because I think they have incredible quick scoring ability. As for Pujara, I think it is a joke he is not in starting XI for ODIs, he has shown an unmatched consistency in OD cricket in India and moreover has shown that he can handle international bowlers.

[msb1991]

Sehwag is finished IMO. Unless the wicket is a complete batting paradise' date=' he will struggle.[/quote'] A commonly held view that is without evidence...he is worse on tougher pitches. Perhaps more worse than other players are in the same conditions. But to say he is incapable on tough pitches is to overstate your case. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/456663.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/456665.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/434264.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66290.html Low scoring contests are becoming more and more of a rarity in ODI cricket. A trademark Sehwag quick 30 in a low scoring game can be truly valuable but the above shows that occasionally, he can go beyond that.

[Tridibans_16]

How many wicket keeper batsmen in India averaged close to 40 in tests ?

Frankly speaking his technique is awful for swing/seam. Infact, even good spinners like Swann has troubled him. If he had been an Aussie/ Saffer, he would have failed miserably in tests and never selected. In ODIs, he is a beast. Like Bevan (failed at tests but a match winner in ODIs).

[NareshK]

^^Even if you are making a case for Sehwag playing well in tough conditions, those were matches played more than 2 years ago. It doesnt have any relevance to what he is capable now. He has been dreadful in all formats in the last year or so.

[Laaloo]

Gambhir is good only against Srilanka.

That goes for team India as well :((

[zen]

The problem with India is that it does not have players who are good enough or willing to bat in the top 3, especially in tests (I know we are talking ODIs here) .... We have had some good players who do a great job in the middle order Our team is filled with guys like UV, Raina and Dhoni who are very good in the middle but failed to make a successful transition to bat in the top 3 or 4. We have seen players in other teams who start out at #6 but gradually make a transition to batting in the top 4 in most formats The inability of those batting down to improve their games to be able to bat higher and in tougher conditions is what is a major cause for concern. Another question to ask is if GG and Sehwag batted in the middle order would their performance improve or can Yuvi, Raina and Dhoni do a better job playing in the top 3 GG and Sehwag are test quality batsmen, who actually open in tests. Where as some (or at least one) of the Indian greats have categorically refused to bat in the top 3. Rather than appreciating that Ind has these test quality openers and considering the fact that some of the guys who bat in the middle order have hardly improved their techniques, we want to replace these test quality openers and that too with players who may not even come close to averaging 35 in ODIs with a high strike rate, let alone tests

[Tarun45]

Why did North get all important world cup matches?? They have it every single time

At least the weather in the north holds up and you have to admit the crowd in the north is always superior just like everything else:--D

[msb1991]

^^Even if you are making a case for Sehwag playing well in tough conditions' date=' those were matches played more than 2 years ago. It doesnt have any relevance to what he is capable now. He has been dreadful in all formats in the last year or so.[/quote'] That is because he is in poor form. There is not a credible argument to say for sure that he has lost the ability to play well in bowler-friendly conditions. I say he is in bad form, that is the most plausible explanation rather than saying he has 'lost it'.

[Asim]

I wish Ind all the best to continue winning "mentally"...

[Jersey #10]

lol Uthappa...not so fast! He's back in the line. He has had his chances

[dangerman1985]

You must have some REAALLLYYYY high standards.

he has played only in India so far and scored runs and that does not mean he has proved himself in tests. He has yet to play and score runs outside India.

[The Dark Horse]

he has played only in India so far and scored runs and that does not mean he has proved himself in tests. He has yet to play and score runs outside India.

What has Rohit done to be in any team?

[dangerman1985]

What has Rohit done to be in any team?

nothing significant yet apart from some match winning knocks against west Indies in ODI but he mostly comes late in the order to bat so does not get much time to bat. If he is given chance to open the innings he may come good and if he does not then he can be removed.

[King Tendulkar]

If rahane does not play 2nd odi...... lets just say i wont be happy

[rkt.india]

Pujara-Rahane should open against England. Considering WC2015, we need to pick openers who has good technique to survive against new ball and after new rules, even with sedate start, you can always score quickly once the ball gets old.

[velu]

GG and Sehwag are test quality batsmen, who actually open in tests. Where as some (or at least one) of the Indian greats have categorically refused to bat in the top 3. Rather than appreciating that Ind has these test quality openers and considering the fact that some of the guys who bat in the middle order have hardly improved their techniques, we want to replace these test quality openers and that too with players who may not even come close to averaging 35 in ODIs with a high strike rate, let alone tests

:hysterical::hysterical:

[Ahmed]

I don't know what is so special with Dinda / Sharma that we keep on selecting them. WE MUST TRY OUT Sami Ahmed' date=' that Sharma guy from U19 WC, Pankaj singh etc. They cannot be as bad as these two :wall: Even if they are, atleast it will be worth it as they are our future attack. I dearly miss Yadav. [b']Pakistan can't play pace. It is a fact.

Pakistan can play pace quite comfortably. The batsmen are used to face pacy bowlers in domestic. But what Pakistan can't play are 130 kph swing bowlers.

[Ahmed]

if rohit is benched' date=',,then we can win on green pastures also[/quote'] I really hope he is benched and replaced by Jadeja, and that is what will probably happen because I doubt Dhoni will go in with 4 fast bowlers.