Mumbai Pre-test discussion - team composition, etc.

[coffee_rules]

It looks like Saha is still not fit. Pappu to play for sure. Rahul is also fit. It looks like either Murli or Nair will get dropped. Not fair for Nair, but can't drop Murli for Mumabi at least.  If mumbai is anywhere like 2012, 3 spinners is a must  Unless Shami is not fit, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar might get a chance to play.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Same Team.

[express bowling]

Rahul in place of  Karun

 

Rest of the players are same.

[Sidhoni]

Same team

[mishra]

Same team

[SUMO]

rahul in place of karun

[Sooda]

Rahul in for Nair goes without saying. Harsh on Nair but cannot open with PP

[fineleg]

Is there a link to news confirming that KLR is fit for Bombay Test?

Also - what abt M. Vijay, I thought he is partially fit only? (Back spasms?)

Why haven't they announced a reserve opener when both our openers are struggling with fitness? (A. Mukund or Herwadkar?)

[Bleed-Blue]

Rahul For Vijay. Vijay hasn't done much apart from first test and seems to have a back problem.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Bleed-Blue

[ShebbySB]

Rahul

Vijay

Pujara

Kohli

Rahane

Parthiv

Ashwin

Jadeja

Jayant

Umesh

Shami

If Vijay is not fit then Parthiv should open with Rahul and Nair should play at 6.

[New guy]

Well we can't lose the series now, time to get Atul Sharma in

[singhprakash72]

Pappu patel is okay for stop gap but if selectors are getting enticed by his batting they're in for some big trouble....he is a compulsive rapia (some times sitters) ..it is simple he and DK cannot go 2 full innings of test match without dropping or missing a stumping. It is in their blood...Saha may lack batting of Pappu but definitely more secure behind the stumps. Now people will say we still won the Mohali test despite his shit but imagine this abroad where our bowlers are already struggling ...the thing I can never forgive Pappu is the Sydney test ..that was closest India came to beating Aussie in their home. 

[fineleg]

^ We just dont have a dependable WK-batsman - so it is stop-gap till we find one.

[mancalledsting]

Ok after three matches let's take stock:

 

Dilema:

 

Shikhar Dhawan recently dropped/injured- 

Replaced with KL Rahul- just back from injury/ unconvincing on return, doubts over fitness 

replaced with Gauti- unconvincing, ageing 

M Vijay under performing except in first test- doubts about long term suitability as opener 

 

net result: consistently poor opening partnerships and therefore increased pressure on Chepu, Kohli and Rahane to perform  big and hence India have made sub optimal batting totals so far this series, saving England from even bigger embarrassment. 

 

Pappu comes in- two good scores at the top of the order, counter attacking knocks, first time and Indian opener since sehwag has come out and made foreign pacers look ordinary, made a potentially tricky chase look very easy. Given pappus current form- he offers greatest hope of runs at the top of the order, something we've desperately missed so far- at least as a short term solution so that we don't keep putting our middle order under pressure. Who knows if pappus second coming is genuine, he could be a mini Sehwag for us- he's especially good against pace and I think England might play and extra pacer in the next two tests 

 

despite Vijay's poor performance, should be retained as part of final chance to fulfill his potential and for sake of not playing two inexperienced openers (Rahul and Pappu)

 

conclusion: Pappu and Vijay must open 

 

Dilema:

pappu very very poor with gloves- possible excuse, not used to our bowlers and like most WKs will need a settling in period (like bairstow did)

 

saha also poor with gloves but unlike Pappu no contribution with the bat, therefore no opportunity cost by replacing Saha with pappu-

 

conclusion: play pappu as WK allowing you to play an extra batsmen- give him chance to prove himself with the gloves

 

Dilema: 4 bowlers or 5?

 

5 match test series- huge workload for our bowlers 

seamers been effective so far as they can go full blast in short spells as they have three other bowlers to take wickets/keep things tight 

3 spinners: are all solid batsmen 

 

conclusion: must continue with five bowler strategy 

 

karun vs Kl Rahul: 

 

if kl rahul plays- he should only play as an opener and not be messed around by jumping up and down the order. Also he has only just come back from injury and I'm not sure about his batting form. A chance will come at the top of the order very soon as one of the following likely to happen soon: dhawan written of completely, vijay will continue to fail, Pappu will prove unsuitable as an opener. Rather than rushing him back in, I would like him to regain true fitness and demonstrate batting form

 

Therefore...

 

My starting XI:

 

Pappu (wk)

Vijay

Chepu

Kohli (C)

Rahane 

Karun

Ashwin

Jadeja

Jayant

Umesh

Shami

Edited December 6, 2016 by mancalledsting

[fineleg]

^ Not gonna happen. Already announced (nearly) KLR playing and Karun Nair sitting out. Kohli and Kumble have made the call.

[rkt.india]

11 hours ago, New guy said:

Well we can't lose the series now, time to get Atul Sharma in

at his home ground 

[Unleashed]

Shami doubtful for the next test is an huge blow for the next test.

[msplash9]

Quote

BREAKING NEWS: Manish Pandey and Shardul Thakur have been called-up to the Indian Test squad for the fourth Test, in place of Ajinkya Rahane and Mohammed Shami. . Both Rahane and Shami have niggles. Strong chance that Karun Nair could get another game. Both Pandey and Shardul are in the middle of a game currently. Pandey will have to fly straight to the airport from Mohali, while Shardul is in Rajkot, so its a much easier flight.

 

[G_B_]

hmm not good news for Rahane. This was his home deck with the ball coming onto the bat would have suited him to get back to form.

 

Thakur should play on this deck. Knows the ground inside out.

[G_B_]

and IMO this is the best ground for England to make a comeback.

 

Its close to the sea and the swing will be there for Anderson. The wicket should also have decent bounce.

 

Mumbai has not been a happy hunting ground for India. SA won their only test series in India by winning at mumbai. England won last time as well. So 2 of the series losses for India since 1990, Mumbai has been involved. It was a dead rubber when India won v Aus in 2004 (Aus had won the series)

 

Probably one of the very unindian grounds in a way.