Do India Need To Replace Dhawan in the T20 Format?

[rkt.india]

There's other examples of getting it wrong by going into too many numbers. Murali Vijay is one. He had a highest score of 45 in 5 overseas tests. Not done much in A tours. Statistics would suggest he was a FTB and should not be taken on SA tour. And maybe for the old Vijay it was true. Statistics suggested his recent hundred at the time vs Aus was just bullying on patta. He also struggled in all ODI's and T20's played overseas til then.

But players improve. Good players can be completly transformed. Rahane is checking off weaknesses one by one. Steve Smith transformed and so on...

And we all know what Vijay did in that SA tour. Had people looking so much into statistics been picking him they would probably had left him out. Whereas those watching him leave the ball decisively vs Aus and dropping wrists nicely for short balls would have felt hmmm this guy can do it.

Seeing Rahane it feels like he can be in control vs the best bowlers in the world. He is now very busy and easily rotating strike. And he can be the highly consistent anchor others can hit around. And he proved that he can play quite fast in IPL 2015 as well. He has checked off so many weaknesses already. Proven he can adapt and improve. No reason not to pick him.

 

do you think Rahane can  be a match winner in T20 cricket? who can play innings which can win you matches. Likes of Rohit, Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina are capable of that and have done that. Rahane and Dhawan havent done that yet. So, there are question  marks on them. We cannot selected T20 team based on ODIs.

To top off the above example he had had a poor Ranji season before test selection if I recall correctly and his overall career average was lower than a few openers in domestic FC....so there you go

Vijay always had that potential since his debut. Problem was that too much T20 cricket had affected his test batting.

[Forever Indian]

Can you check the SR please? 130 should be minimum SR for T20.

His strike rate in last IPL was 130, I just looked up. Same SR as Kohli who was the second best Indian scorer.

http://www.informationcricket.com/ipl/most-runs/

[express bowling]

Each to his own but that is not how I would select my team. Especially if you look at what Rahane did in the most recent IPL even numbers wise. I genuinely believe Rahane would be an excellent selection and we would not be with Dhawan. It would be either Rahane or Dhawan with Rohit. Consistency at a 130 strike rate is what he offered in IPL 2015. Even though I feel one opener can have 120 if he is consistent and other partner is fast.

With this approach going into too much numbers Aus would have left out Steve Smith in Tests and ODI's before his form picked up. I feel Rahane is one player who has the ability to transform like him. He already improved in T20's in IPL 2015. He already improved strike rotation in ODI's. What's the point of including statistics from careers beginning if that player is improving at an exceptional rate to influence selection. And in that case like you said recent stats show why he should be picked. But just watching him improve his ability to easily rotate strike and take a few risks like charging a fast bowler to go with his timing show he has potential to open T20 innings.

And I would predict Steve Smith to adapt and do well in T20's. I think it is going to happen. But statistics will suggest it won't and he would never be picked. Same goes for Dhawan. Let's see how that goes...

 

As I said before, players should be picked primarily on ability and potential. Stats will come in only after that, either as a confirmation or non-confirmation  of that ability if needed ...or elimination of competition.

Steve Smith a tremendous stroke player in red-hot form and I would take him irrespective of stats.

The Indian T20 team needs some real big hitters...I want a couple of batsmen coming in, hitting big sixes and playing at 150 SR or more if possible. I want to drop Rahane and Dhawan not because of  their stats only but because they are not big stroke players who can hit sixes at will. Their SR is just a confirmation of that and not the primary reason why I want them dropped from our T20 team.

We have an aging Dhoni and Yuvraj and out of form Raina...who will hit sixes for us  ?

 

Edited January 28, 2016 by express bowling

[express bowling]

His strike rate in last IPL was 130, I just looked up. Same SR as Kohli who was the second best Indian scorer.

http://www.informationcricket.com/ipl/most-runs/

Rahane has improved his stroke-play and strike-rotation a lot in recent times. ( which is why I want him in ODIs ) 

In T20Is  he can be included if any of the existing proper batsmen are out of form but not at the expense of a big-hittter.

I want a real big hitter replacing Dhawan as opener..

Edited January 28, 2016 by express bowling

[rkt.india]

His strike rate in last IPL was 130, I just looked up. Same SR as Kohli who was the second best Indian scorer.

http://www.informationcricket.com/ipl/most-runs/

His overall SR in T20s is 117 and I will look at that, not just one IPL. He hit a really good time last year in IPL, but can he sustain that SR against good attacks, I highly doubt it.

[rkt.india]

Rahane has improved his stroke-play and strike-rotation a lot in recent times. ( which is why I want him in ODIs ) 

In T20Is  he can be included if any of the existing proper batsmen are out of form but not at the expense of a big-hittter.

I want a real big hitter replacing Dhawan as opener..

Yes, I want someone who can win a T20 game on his day. 

[express bowling]

Yes, I want someone who can win a T20 game on his day. 

Exactly. We are lacking real impact batsmen at T20 level...even ODIs lower-middle order.

[rkt.india]

Exactly. We are lacking real impact batsmen at T20 level...even ODIs lower-middle order.

Rohit, Kohli, Raina, Tuvraj all on their day have won us games and have the ability to do that. Dhawan hasnt doen that, neither Rahane.

[express bowling]

deleted

Edited January 28, 2016 by express bowling

[G_B_]

 The Rohit Sharma stats are a bit misleading cause he has only recently moved to opening in T20s for India (in terms of number of games) and plays at 4 for MI. 

 

The way i see it, if Dhawan fails next game Rahane who is in the squad needs to be given a go. You cant just stick with Dhawan if he feels failing. If Rahane fails drop them both for the T20 WC squad.

 

 

 

 

 

[Crookbond]

Did well today!

[rkt.india]

Did well today!

yeah. lets see. Lot of matches there before WT20. Main point will be to see how he bats against spin in SC conditions. Lot of teams will start with spin. He showed his struggles there last time.

Edited January 29, 2016 by rkt.india

[Yami]

Finch not for the Sydney t20 but India will keep youvraj for Asia cup and world 20/20

I think sarfaraz khan with the score of

81

74

74

 

MORE CAPABLE THAN YOUVI BUT YOUVI IS Better bowler with tons of  KNOWLEDGE IN T20i

 

 

[Vijy]

The answer is: YES.

[Vijy]

Exactly. We are lacking real impact batsmen at T20 level...even ODIs lower-middle order.

Very hard to find Indians with SRs of 150+ in T20s or 100+ in List A; Yusuf Pathan is one name that comes to mind in the past, but he's completely burnt out now.

[adi B]

T20 is not natural to dhawan,one or two quick innings aint changing anything.he'll still struggle come the main tournament and especially against spinners

[Vijy]

T20 is not natural to dhawan,one or two quick innings aint changing anything.he'll still struggle come the main tournament and especially against spinners

Yes, he's simply not fast enough as a scorer.

[G_B_]

I dont think this was the pitch to judge

[Laaloo]

I dont think this was the pitch to judge

yeah but his approach was digusting. He plays like this on any pitch.

[sandeep]

Viper, just FYI - I think your keyboard is stuck on the  smiley.  It seems to pop up in odd sentences and posts where it doesn't make much sense.  Either that or you really buy into the ROTFL laughing club philosophy 24/7.