Is this really a "settled" side, or should changes be made before the World Cup?

[TNAmarkFrmIndia]

The conditions in Champions Trophy are quite different from Aus/NZ.

True, but it still wasn't as great conditions as some people make it out to be. Except the game against South Africa, almost all matches were low-scoring. The Champions Trophy win was a combination of brilliant batting and excellent bowling as well. We truly performed like "champions".

Also' date=' South Africa used to be an excellent ODI side, especially at home back then. So they had the edge over us. That Indian side had the potential to defeat most teams on any day other than the mighty Aussie side whom we ran into in the final or perhaps South Africans at home. Its not a surprise we reached the final.[/quote'] Lol no. Even with all those players India used to be a painfully average side overseas then. There were obviously expectations from the team in 2003, like there are before every World Cup, but they were by no means world beaters yet. From barely scoring 200 against a low-ranked Netherlands and the crushing loss to Australia, it was a big surprise that we were able to reach the finals. People were beginning to doubt if we would be able to compete against England and Pakistan in South African conditions let alone qualify for the next round. India did the near unthinkable and won 8 games ina row to reach the finals. India's best time as an ODI side was probably when the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Raina and Dhoni were at their best (2008-2011).

[goose]

This all has a very strong whiff of deju vu. So I suggest doing what we did before in the one-day format. Ask our best batsman Kohli to move up the order and open for India. Get Sehwag to partner Kohli at the top. Be resigned to the fact that our bowlers will be average at best and err on the side of all-rounders and bowlers with a proven record of succeeding with the bat. Jadeja stays and Yuvraj has to come back in place of Ashwin. I like Rahane - he always seems to contribute. How on earth is Pujara not in this side - get him in quickly. Rohit Sharma's role must be consistent half-centuries down the order and will compete with Dhawan and Raina for that slot. Kohli Sehwag Pujara Rahane Yuvraj R.Sharma / Dhawan / Raina Dhoni Jadeja Yadav Zaheer Shami

[TNAmarkFrmIndia]

I like Rahane - he always seems to contribute.

Except that he hasn't for a couple of years now, except on the field. Good test player, not suited for ODIs at all.