Mr Dhoni, what happened to the long rope you keep talking about? Only applies to your favorites??

[Old guy]

We have a pool of bowlers in Bhuvi, Umesh and Shami (and Ishwar Pandey). Need to rotate them around to get them ready for SA and other away tours. Ideally Umesh-Shami should have played here but Bhuvi-Shami isn't bad either. One provides control, the other can attack. With two attacking bowlers in a 4 man attack, too many runs can be leaked, so that explains why Bhuvi-Shami and not Umesh-Shami. People wanted Ishant not be picked, he isn't. Some wanted Zak to be here, that would have meant no Shami debut. Wonder how bad it could have been.

i am fine with bhuvi being picked but umesh would have been better.. that control part is true with new ball but its pointless when he cannot do anything with older ball... and honestly spinners can provide all the control needed and quick bowlers should attack in south africa i can see value of bhuvi as he can provide control needed as a third seam bowler.. honestly right now we arguing about ideal scenario and i am not really criticizing or anything its fine team as it is..just exclusion of ishant has changed everything :giggle:

[saneindian]

End of the day whatever combination we icked, on day 1 of the est after losing the test, opposiiton has been rolled over for 234. Credit to the bowlers, instead the captain is being pilloried! Bash him for his shoddy keeping. Doesn't look 100% fit as he was collecting everything with his left palm. How did the physio declare him fit for the test.

[Old guy]

End of the day whatever combination we icked, on day 1 of the est after losing the test, opposiiton has been rolled over for 234. Credit to the bowlers, instead the captain is being pilloried! Bash him for his shoddy keeping. Doesn't look 100% fit as he was collecting everything with his left palm. How did the physio declare him fit for the test.

he should take rest from west indies odi series

[Number]

Him and Dhawan scored centuries in the Irani trophy match playing for RoI leading to their selection.

15,0,17,3,13,24,42,24 These were his scores prior to ROI selection in Ranji.

[rkt.india]

15,0,17,3,13,24,42,24 These were his scores prior to ROI selection in Ranji.

Some players are not motivated enough playing low level matches, examples Sehwag and Pieterson. Vijay can be another one of those.

[Laaloo]

Vijay's a hack Move on already

[carnish]

Didn't MSD specifically mentioned the long rope thing about bowlers in his comment given that many bowlers once gone from the side find it hard to make a comeback??? Yes, he did mention about giving the rope to both batters and bowlers but the reference was mostly about the tendency about how bowlers well settled in the team never returning once they lose their spot in the side. How come OP is comparing Rahane to that statement and crying foul about what he said cause Rahane was never in the side ... Playing one test match is never being in the side ... He was just brought in because one of the other guy was injured or was in bad form and he was the only option out of the 15 available to the team. Similarly many players have got games in ODIs when others are rested or injured ... That doesn't make them a permanent in the side. Rahane may feel hard done but fact is Rohit has been in the side in atleast one format for longer amount of time than Rahane and has not been warming the benches. Plus the fact that he is in terrific form since the Champions Trophy means that he deserves a place in the side more than Rahane.

[Lord]

I also support Yadav's inclusion, should have played ahead of Bhuvi who IMO is not yet a established Test match bowler. See the pre match discussion thread. Rohit's inclusion over Rahane is also completely justified given his current form irrespective of form of cricket.

how?Rohit's form has been at a different position,in a different format in different conditions.If you want to count that,make him open instead of Vijay,why play him in MO then?

[Crookbond]

Rohit Sharma has played 3 FC matches this year and has scores of 77 vs Australia at Chennai and a magnificent 119 vs South Africa A in SA. Last year in Ranji Trophy games (since November) he had 166 & 71 v Saurashtra, 203 & 28 v Punjab, 1 & 14 v Bengal, 112 & DNB v Hyderabad, 79 & DNB v Rajasthan, 18 & 20 v Railways. Overall, in 6 Ranji Trophy 2012 matches averaged 71.20 with 3x100s and 2x50s. Only Ravindra Jadeja played lesser matches (5) and averaged more than Rohit Sharma.

[saneindian]

how?Rohit's form has been at a different position' date='in a different format in different conditions.If you want to count that,make him open instead of Vijay,why play him in MO then?[/quote'] Last time they both played a FC ,match together (vs SA A ) Rohit scored 117 , Rahane 10. Going further back, here are their scores in matches both played together last FC season Rohit 0, 1 166, 6, 203, 28, 18, 20 - total 558 runs@62 Rahane 83, 25, 71, 31, DNB, 129, 84 - total 433 runs@54 You decide who is in better FC form. Rohit did not play at Lahli , ant really how he would have done. But add the international runs Rohit has made in international cricket in various conditions, Rahane stood no chance. Ignoring Rohit after those kind of numbers would have been a travesty and am glad team management took the right call.

[Lord]

Last time they both played a FC ,match together (vs SA A ) Rohit scored 117 , Rahane 10. Going further back, here are their scores in matches both played together last FC season Rohit 0, 1 166, 6, 203, 28, 18, 20 - total 558 runs@62 Rahane 83, 25, 71, 31, DNB, 129, 84 - total 433 runs@54 You decide who is in better FC form. Rohit did not play at Lahli , ant really how he would have done. But add the international runs Rohit has made in international cricket in various conditions, Rahane stood no chance. Ignoring Rohit after those kind of numbers would have been a travesty and am glad team management took the right call.

no you are seeing it wrong.Rahane was benched for England series and first 3 test v Aus.then selected for last match.since then he did well in SA A tour and in FC matches.Once a player makes his debut he should be given a fair chance and dropped only if he underperforms.Rahane got only one chance and did okay in FC matches.So what did he deserve to be dropped?

[CG]

no you are seeing it wrong.Rahane was benched for England series and first 3 test v Aus.then selected for last match.since then he did well in SA A tour and in FC matches.Once a player makes his debut he should be given a fair chance and dropped only if he underperforms.Rahane got only one chance and did okay in FC matches.So what did he deserve to be dropped?

Fact is Dhoni Rates Sharma Highly than rahane and he has backed rohit sharma thorugh tough times.U can try to twist words but captain will always have his favourites who get longer rope than others. Regarding form in diff formats pujara was in terrific form in tests but was ignored for sometime in odis even though his doemstic odi record is good.So lets not kid ourselves.

[vvvslaxman]

Fact is Dhoni Rates Sharma Highly than rahane and he has backed rohit sharma thorugh tough times.U can try to twist words but captain will always have his favourites who get longer rope than others.

Not just Dhoni, few more in the commentary box constantly hype this guy around. Finaly he got some runs, they just selected him. It may be touch unfair to Rahane. But time is running out on Rohit sharma. He is already 26. If they want to test if he is really something special this is it. If he fails Rahane always has a shot at it. Until then he just has to focus in first class and wait for his turn.

[CG]

Not just Dhoni' date=' few more in the commentary box constantly hype this guy around. Finaly he got some runs, they just selected him. It may be touch unfair to Rahane. But time is running out on Rohit sharma. He is already 26. If they want to test if he is really something special this is it. If he fails Rahane always has a shot at it. Until then he just has to focus in first class and wait for his turn.[/quote'] The only one who matters is dhoni & I am happy he is backing the right guy.But We should be able to accept the fact that yardsticks are not same for all people.When u rate a guy obviously u will back him .

[saneindian]

no you are seeing it wrong.Rahane was benched for England series and first 3 test v Aus.then selected for last match.since then he did well in SA A tour and in FC matches.Once a player makes his debut he should be given a fair chance and dropped only if he underperforms.Rahane got only one chance and did okay in FC matches.So what did he deserve to be dropped?

If we are talking of standards, the atrocious shot that Rahane played vs Aus in the 2nd innings dring a tricky chase, in some other countries, he could have been sent into wilderness ala Damien Martyn. 26.4 Maxwell to Rahane, OUT, caught at deep midwicket! India losing wickets in a hurry now. Rahane stepped out of his crease, wasn't to the pitch of the ball, but went through with his slog anyway. He mis-hit it in the air, and Lyon had to run a fair bit from the boundary to take the catch. A poor debut for Rahane, he's better than the shot he played today Thankfully team management saw that as nerves of a debutant. I do not hate Rahane, and as I have said he will replace Sachin in 11 in SA. Slightly unfair on him but weight of Rohit's runs completely swung it in his favour.

[express bowling]

In ODIs, I would prefer Bhuvi over Umesh if I can pick only one among the two. But , in tests, Umesh should be the obvious choice over Bhuvi. Regarding domestic performance, is it not possible that Umesh would not go flat out and use it more to practice. Many established pacers do that. Rohit has a very good FC record. That combined with his recent international performances and his ability to play the short ball, Rohit's pick is a good one.

[Lord]

If we are talking of standards, the atrocious shot that Rahane played vs Aus in the 2nd innings dring a tricky chase, in some other countries, he could have been sent into wilderness ala Damien Martyn. 26.4 Maxwell to Rahane, OUT, caught at deep midwicket! India losing wickets in a hurry now. Rahane stepped out of his crease, wasn't to the pitch of the ball, but went through with his slog anyway. He mis-hit it in the air, and Lyon had to run a fair bit from the boundary to take the catch. A poor debut for Rahane, he's better than the shot he played today Thankfully team management saw that as nerves of a debutant. I do not hate Rahane, and as I have said he will replace Sachin in 11 in SA. Slightly unfair on him but weight of Rohit's runs completely swung it in his favour.

if we talk of atrocious shots,Rohit wouldnt have played as many ODIs by your logic.would have been dropped long before I dont hate Rohit either,but there has to be consistency,You cant keep backing one guy forever and drop another after 2-3 failures.has happened with Rahane in ODIs too.now happening in Tests if Dhoni/selectors don't rate Rahane,why select him at all?

[saneindian]

if we talk of atrocious shots,Rohit wouldnt have played as many ODIs by your logic.would have been dropped long before I dont hate Rohit either,but there has to be consistency,You cant keep backing one guy forever and drop another after 2-3 failures.has happened with Rahane in ODIs too.now happening in Tests if Dhoni/selectors don't rate Rahane,why select him at all?

Playing across the line hoicks in a test match that too in a chase can never be compared with such a shot played in ODIs. And do remember for playing those idn of shots Rohit has lost his ODI spot, most prominently from 2011 WC squad. Has alwys gone back to domestic cricket and scored runs. Rahane hasn't been ignored, is still part of the squad. Will get his chance, hopefully they have released him to play for Mumbai today

[Laaloo]

someone is delusional again

[express bowling]

From the team's point of view, leaving all other factors aside, who do you think would be the better choice for this test match ? Rohit or Rahane ?