Indian Team - In true transition! And loving it!!

[Precambrian]

Well the central contracts for 2013-14 has been announced and looking at the list one cannot but notice how young the squad is. This is a true squad of the future.

• The 24 players centrally contracted (excluding Tendulkar) have played a total of 403 tests among themselves, 1564 ODIs and 301 T20Is among themselves, which translates to a per player avg of 17 tests, 65 ODIs and 13 T20Is respectively.
• Excluding Yuvraj, Gambhir and Ishant, none of whom are expected to be in the test XI for near future, the average tests per player comes down to just 11. None of the remaining players have played even 25 tests barring Dhoni.
• Average age of the 25 player squad is 27, the oldest being Dhoni at 32 and youngest being Undakat at 22. The median is 27 as well which suggests a very good compact spread there.

And we are chasing our 6th consecutive win with such a young squad. Teams like Australia which has been moaning transition for last 6 years can take a cue. Yeah, we might in all probability get found in SA, Eng & Aus, but surely things cannot get worse than 0-4 whitewashes which we endured with a far more experienced squad. Plus these chaps would have precious learnings which will only help them in future. The average age of 27 suggests these guys are on the verge of peaking. If they manage to stay cohesive, one can only imagine where the team will be in the next couple or three years. Kudos to BCCI and selectors for taking such bold initiatives. Exciting times ahead!

[Cricketics]

I am just excited about the coming matches. Regardless of the results(off course, I want them to win it all), I will suppor the young group. I hope others do to and keep some patience as it will take some time for these guys to settle in as they will be playing against some top teams at their home. We will have atleast 6-7 pool of players who will be playing in all 3 formats, so I hope they are managed well as the next year is going to be really tough on players as they will be play continuous cricket till the world cup 2015.

[Zanjeer]

What transition? We have vinay Koooomaaar replacing zak....:giggle:

[shortbread]

I hope the selectors are learning from Pakistans mistake of running back to pensioners every time the team hits a bump!! SA will be an uphill battle for the youngsters no doubt about it. It will still be a lot better than watching the likes of the 'experienced' walking wickets we had before. A few years ago the likes of Sehwag would have his spot cemented despite lack of form, fitness or intent. Now the seniors are on their toes and desperate to prove themselves in the domestic circuit. The biggest positive I think is that young first class cricketers have the opportunity to bowl at the likes of Gambir/Sehwag or face Zak/Harbajan and prove their mettle. I think playing Vinay Kumar was part of the deal WI demanded before agreeing to tour India.

[deathmonger]

This is due to an abundance of quality. India with a 1 billion population should always have been the best team. But due to lack of infrastructure/money most of the people coming through couldn't be groomed properly. This has changed in recent years and has led to improvements in fielding,running between the wickets and even fast bowling you could say (Yes, RP,Munaf etc didn't live up to their potential but in the 90s and earlier even the one season wonders were nowhere to be found). It is no coincidence that Indian cricket's best era has come alongside India's economic rise. By 2030 I expect India to be like USA in basketball ie winning everything.

[fineleg]

What transition? We have vinay Koooomaaar replacing zak....:giggle:

How is the Vennai still selected!?? :((

[Sidhoni]

And our ODI team also looks capable of maintaining no. 1 status. Most of our test batsmen have either just gone past 1000 runs or yet to get there. This coming after 3 guys who had 30k+ combined

[carnish]

This is due to an abundance of quality. India with a 1 billion population should always have been the best team. But due to lack of infrastructure/money most of the people coming through couldn't be groomed properly. This has changed in recent years and has led to improvements in fielding,running between the wickets and even fast bowling you could say (Yes, RP,Munaf etc didn't live up to their potential but in the 90s and earlier even the one season wonders were nowhere to be found). It is no coincidence that Indian cricket's best era has come alongside India's economic rise. By 2030 I expect India to be like USA in basketball ie winning everything.

Like USA in basketball in just 16 years .... Lol .. What are you smoking??

[deathmonger]

Like USA in basketball in just 16 years .... Lol .. What are you smoking??

Reality, man. Which other country can oppose us. By 2030 we'll be like China today, huge huge economy. Couple with our population that's total domination. I mean, look at how quickly we rebuilt the team (at least for ODIs and home tests, away test still remaining). Countries like Oz have been rebuilding from 2008, Pakis from 2003 onwards, England had huge slump in 90s, WI since mid 90s. Look at us in CT - No SRT, No Viru, No Gambo, No Zak, No Yuvi - No Problem! The abundance of talent is a testament to my theory. It's only going to get better and better now.

[carnish]

That's because there is a genuine craze for Cricket ... Plus our economy will go nowhere if we get congress back in power ... So hold your horses about us becoming world powers

[Brainfade]

And our ODI team also looks capable of maintaining no. 1 status. Most of our test batsmen have either just gone past 1000 runs or yet to get there. This coming after 3 guys who had 30k+ combined

Yep. We've dominated 50 over LOIs for a while now, and appear to continue to do so for a good while longer.

[Brainfade]

The big questions for tests (besides seam options) are the #2 and #6 slots: For now, Dhawan, Pujara, Kohli and Sharma pick themselves. Thankfully, Rohit's turnaround has come about at just the right time. The other opening slot is still shaky. And our options seem very limited. Sehwag's career is essentially finished. Gambhir, for whatever reason, has fallen out of favor. I don't see any other true opening options on the horizon. Jiwanjot? Mukund? Maybe promote Sharma? While all that gives some cause for concern, there is at least a warm body (Vijay) walking out with Dhawan. The #6 story is worse: Rahane? Much I have enjoyed watching him score heavily in domestics, he has proven to be Badri-II. Raina? Doesn't inspire much confidence. We are stuck with finding a complete newbie for this slot, and that is scary. If the next test were to start next week, we would likely go with: Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Sharma, Rahane, Dhoni, Ashwin, B. Kumar, Shami, Ojha. Alternatively, Dhawan, Sharma, Pujara, Kohli, Zol/Aparajith/Juneja/Samson, Dhoni, Ashwin, B. Kumar, Shami, Ojha. I realize I provide no novel insights here ... just trying to start a(nother) conversation.

[carnish]

I would stick with Vijay atleast till the end of England tour ... If he fails completely, throw him out for life ... At No. 6 though, its slightly difficult ... Others are settled but Rahane isn't and trying him at that slot when we have 9 away games coming up might be doing him more harm than good. Hopefully he overcomes the difficulties and comes out strong from it but unless he fails miserably, he does deserve a chance for the whole 9 tests too.

[deathmonger]

That's because there is a genuine craze for Cricket ... Plus our economy will go nowhere if we get congress back in power ... So hold your horses about us becoming world powers

Economy will grow at minimum 5% no matter who is in power. That alone will make us 3rd largest by 2030 (behind Amreeka/Chinks). But it can touch 8-9% if leaders are good.

[carnish]

Economy will grow at minimum 5% no matter who is in power. That alone will make us 3rd largest by 2030 (behind Amreeka/Chinks). But it can touch 8-9% if leaders are good.

See, I don't see India becoming a global power in any other sport so soon than in the sports they already are good at and that includes shooting, archery, wrestling, chess, kabaddi, boxing, cricket, maybe hockey if enough importance is given to the game and backed by commercially stable sponsors. Apart from these games, I don't see us becoming a world power in any other sport atleast till 2050.

[carnish]

And its one thing to become the 3rd largest economy but another to be strong economically and that can only happen when society as a whole develops economically and not some sections. This will need a lot of work in various sectors which will never be possible unless somehow all corruptions in the system magically vanishes.

[deathmonger]

See' date=' I don't see India becoming a global power in any other sport so soon than in the sports they already are good at and that includes shooting, archery, wrestling, chess, kabaddi, boxing, cricket, maybe hockey if enough importance is given to the game and backed by commercially stable sponsors. Apart from these games, I don't see us becoming a world power in any other sport atleast till 2050.[/quote'] No one's saying we'll be like China in sports. But I expect 25-30 medals in the 2028,2032 olympics if not more. I mean even archery, shooting, wrestling, boxing to abhi se acche huye hai. Aage inme thori na medal milta tha.

[CSK Fan]

That's because there is a genuine craze for Cricket ... Plus our economy will go nowhere if we get congress back in power ... So hold your horses about us becoming world powers

Economy will grow if a non-coalition government is in power. Otherwise it will be the same cr@p and no progress

[saneindian]

Next 9 months will tell us where this young side stands in tests. That they will continue to do well is home tests is beyond doubt and I would not put it beyond them to beat even Eng and SA in India. Away from home they may go onto lose the next 3 series but would be good to see some fighting cricket and not a meek surrender we saw during 0-8. Avoiding the whitewash and winning a couple of away tests tat would be a good enough result and a step forward in the development of this young side.

[carnish]

No one's saying we'll be like China in sports. But I expect 25-30 medals in the 2028' date='2032 olympics if not more.[b'] I mean even archery, shooting, wrestling, boxing to abhi se acche huye hai. Aage inme thori na medal milta tha.

Boxing me hum kabse achee the ... Not in medal category but there was interest in the sport since ages. Yes, the others we have developed recently but that has its own reason. Most of those sports are not played on a professional level but on an amateur level (keep in mind we are good only in amateur boxing) but sports like basketball are played professionally in USA and generate huge revenues apart from garnering a popular fanbase among the general masses. To develop in such sports without good infrastructure across the nation will be very difficult and hence I say that your prediction of 2030 is aiming too high.