Cricinfo guesses for Rohit may be retained, Pujara may open and Gambhir and Ashwin based on Net Practice

[fineleg]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/content/story/767155.html If the signs from India's net sessions are anything to go by, R Ashwin seems set to play his first Test of 2014. Dhawan is now an unlikely starter after six failures with the bat, and when India did their slips practice, M Vijay had moved in at first slip. Dhawan did not bat as much as he has been doing, and Gautam Gambhir can be hopeful of a Test return after having last played in late 2012. Gambhir got a hit just after Vijay, but struggled a bit, and spent most of the remaining session sat on a cooler box. There is a line of thought that Cheteshwar Pujara could be asked to open with the other batsmen moving up one spot. In that scenario, Rohit could be retained, with Ashwin replacing Dhawan in the XI.

[GautiMaan]

struggled in what sense:hmmm:

[fineleg]

struggled in what sense:hmmm:

Prolly putting bat to ball, or half-hearted pokes. This is Gambhir. His struggle outside offstump is well known.

[vvvslaxman]

Captain philips is going to ruin already struggling PUjara with this dumb move.

[fineleg]

Captain philips is going to ruin already struggling PUjara with this dumb move.

Yep ridiculous to ask ChePu to open to keep Rohit/GG later. If Tailunt or GG shud play, either Tailunt/GG should open with M. Vijay. Captain Vellarikkai* is gonna destroy bowlers and batsmen. Long Live Vellarikkai! *kheera /cucumber

[helperononline]

Yep ridiculous to ask ChePu to open to keep Rohit/GG later. If Tailunt or GG shud play, either Tailunt/GG should open with M. Vijay. Captain Vellarikkai* is gonna destroy bowlers and batsmen. Long Live Vellarikkai! *kheera

meaning ?

[sensible-indian]

See I look at it this way. We got into this mess due to the pathetic selection in the 3rd Test (and of course our garbage batting which should have got us a draw at the least). Now if both Dhawan and Gambhir are struggling, it makes sense to go for the Pujara move (for the temporary basis). No point in knowingly going with a batting that would get you 20/1. Its a risk but its a calculated risk considering all the options. Can go either way but if Dhawan and Gambhir are struggling, what else do we have? As long as we go with 5 bowlers, we stand a chance. If we had any other PROPER middle order batsman, I would have wanted him there in place of Rohit but there isn't one and I guess if you are going to remove both Dhawan and Gambhir, Rohit has to stay. Naman Ojha is a bit of a wild risk here. I don't know how he plays tough bowling spells. I am aware of his exploits in Australia but those were on pitches which didn't have anything once the ball got old (taking nothing away from Naman's knocks). So Indian management is trying to make the best out of the situation we have. Think about it guys. Its a risk but not a blind risk.

[sensible-indian]

From the article it looks like if both Gambhir and Dhawan are a no go, then this is the lineup: Vijay Chepu Kohli Rahane Rohit Dhoni Ashwin Jaddu Bhuvi (I hope they know what they are doing - if he breaks down in the match, we are screwed) Shami Aaron

[Laaloo]

Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole Don't know why are they making so complicated. Just need to go back to the basics and select what's working for them. Idiots

[sensible-indian]

Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole Don't know why are they making so complicated. Just need to go back to the basics and select what's working for them. Idiots

And what's that? Our selection squad was a flawed one.

[ThePhenomenal1]

5 bowlers is a must. 5 GENUINE BOWLERS. No binny nonsense. Pujara isnt in the best of form, so opening could give him time to settle in and make a big one. Plus that negates anderson v lefties for now. If pujara opens, then dhawan out. Then id add ashwin. Then aaron for shami/bhuvi. Might as well take a risk and be aggressive. Could N Ojha open with rohit missing out for ashwin?

[fineleg]

Pujara isnt in the best of form, so opening could give him time to settle in and make a big one. Plus that negates anderson v lefties for now.

:hysterical: C . R. I. C. K. E. T.

[sensible-indian]

5 bowlers is a must. 5 GENUINE BOWLERS. No binny nonsense. Pujara isnt in the best of form, so opening could give him time to settle in and make a big one. Plus that negates anderson v lefties for now. If pujara opens, then dhawan out. Then id add ashwin. Then aaron for shami/bhuvi. Might as well take a risk and be aggressive. Could N Ojha open with rohit missing out for ashwin?

I would prefer Pujara opening than some wild risks in the event of Dhawan and Gambhir not getting selected. Some commenters in cricinfo in the last few months were suggesting that we should drop Vijay or Dhawan and make Ashwin open. :hysterical: Ashwin is a good batsman but opening in international level? He won't last 15 balls. Many people don't understand cricket. AT ALL.

[NoBull]

Cool Cucumber, if I were to guess...

[rkt.india]

Will take Dhawan GG over Rohit any day.

[fineleg]

Cool Cucumber' date=' if I were to guess...[/quote'] yes vellarikkai is cucumber.

[gattaca]

Will take Dhawan GG over Rohit any day.

according to reports rohit will be dropped. Dont see jaddu being dropped so ashwin for rohit will be the squad.

[gattaca]

See I look at it this way. We got into this mess due to the pathetic selection in the 3rd Test (and of course our garbage batting which should have got us a draw at the least). Now if both Dhawan and Gambhir are struggling, it makes sense to go for the Pujara move (for the temporary basis). No point in knowingly going with a batting that would get you 20/1. Its a risk but its a calculated risk considering all the options. Can go either way but if Dhawan and Gambhir are struggling, what else do we have? As long as we go with 5 bowlers, we stand a chance. If we had any other PROPER middle order batsman, I would have wanted him there in place of Rohit but there isn't one and I guess if you are going to remove both Dhawan and Gambhir, Rohit has to stay. Naman Ojha is a bit of a wild risk here. I don't know how he plays tough bowling spells. I am aware of his exploits in Australia but those were on pitches which didn't have anything once the ball got old (taking nothing away from Naman's knocks). So Indian management is trying to make the best out of the situation we have. Think about it guys. Its a risk but not a blind risk.

Dhoni doesnt know how to rotate 4 bowlers forget 5. He doesnt understand the captaincy while fielding kind of brain dead.

[NareshK]

Might not be a bad move considering our current situation. Dhawan doesnt seem like lasting too long, so we are effectively 1 down from the start and Pujara is more or less facing the new ball. Might as well make him open. Dhawan could step down for Ashwin who is also a decent batsman and we will have 5 bowlers and 2 spinners can do a lot of bowling and give 3 seamers less workload. With a very inexperienced bowling lineup, its better to go with someone like Ashwin than some rookie seamer.

[maniac]

Gambhir struggling is not a good sign...I would say let us give Dhawan 2 more tests.......In a scenario like chasing a low 4th innings score,etc. Dhawan is a must-He is no Sehwag but I will take him over this version of Gambhir any day