Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar - Both of them should be in India's World Cup XI

[battler]

Considering India's not so great middle order and the top order being out of form. India would do well to include both of them in the XI from the beginning. I agree both of them are very average bowlers but between them they can give India 10 overs of seam. My top 7 would be:
Dhawan
Rohit
Kohli
Shankar
MSD
Pandya
Jadhav

 

[Bhaijaan]

Only one of them.

Shankar is bit of a blind slogger I don’t trust him much.

Pandya is definitely in. He is a superstar and a game changer.

 

[Mp812]

Considering India's not so great middle order and the top order being out of form. India would do well to include both of them in the XI from the beginning. I agree both of them are very average bowlers but between them they can give India 10 overs of seam. My top 7 would be:
Dhawan
Rohit
Kohli
Shankar
MSD
Pandya
Jadhav

In my opinion as a spectator, I would also replace Jadhav with Krunal Pandya.
The two Pandyas and Vijay can share 12 to 15 overs bowling between them and both Pandya score quick and can play role of power hitter. Vijay can be given the 40 of 40 balls type of role although i have read he can hit big too . All three can rally around Dhoni as stabiiser batting role. The top three should be followed by Vijay Dhoni, Hardiik,Krunal..... It is a calculated gamble India can take i feel.

But then again I watch cricket once in while so i may be mistaken . However IPL seems to turning out to be good match practice for Indian players....better than pure net practice for sure.. and as i speak Rayudu fails.

 

[Hasan123]

Pandya is a must. Potential match winner with the bat.

 

[Ab Fan]

Get in Dhoni at 4 and Pant at 5.

Jadhav and Pandya are 6 & 7.

Dhoni is your stabilizer and the accumulator who will hold the batting from one end.

Pant is your dasher and aggressor who will take on bowling and change course of the game when click.

Jadhav does a good job at 6 as well and can be handy with spin.

Pandya is your no. 7, a power hitting batsmen and can bowl as third seamer as well.

Shankar, Krunal and Rayudu are backups.

 

[gazza619]

Get in Dhoni at 4 and Pant at 5.

Jadhav and Pandya are 6 & 7.

Dhoni is your stabilizer and the accumulator who will hold the batting from one end.

Pant is your dasher and aggressor who will take on bowling and change course of the game when click.

Jadhav does a good job at 6 as well and can be handy with spin.

Pandya is your no. 7, a power hitting batsmen and can bowl as third seamer as well.

Shankar, Krunal and Rayudu are backups.

Happy days for team India!

Pakistan only has one player who is a sure starter and that is Babar Azam. There is a question mark on every other player.

 

[Ab Fan]

Happy days for team India!

Pakistan only has one player who is a sure starter and that is Babar Azam. There is a question mark on every other player.

Pakistan definitely have weaknesses aside from Babar and Shaheen and on his day, Fakhar.

However, their strength is their unpredictability which is what can take them far enough in this WC and may hurt some of the top teams hope as well.

As for India, it's not happy days either. Most of the mentioned names at their current ages(Pant and Dhoni) are not too far from being considered mediocre. Same goes for Jadhav and Pandya ain't any great either.

Kohli, Rohit, Dhawan, Bumrah and Kuldeep- that's 5 names only I can mention if I pick three from Pakistan.

 

[gazza619]

Pakistan definitely have weaknesses aside from Babar and Shaheen and on his day, Fakhar.

However, their strength is their unpredictability which is what can take them far enough in this WC and may hurt some of the top teams hope as well.

As for India, it's not happy days either. Most of the mentioned names at their current ages(Pant and Dhoni) are not too far from being considered mediocre. Same goes for Jadhav and Pandya ain't any great either.

Kohli, Rohit, Dhawan, Bumrah and Kuldeep- that's 5 names only I can mention if I pick three from Pakistan.

Pant is doing well, isnt he? And Dhoni is still a big name and a crowd puller.

 

[The Viper]

Both should be in the squad. Hardik is a potential match winner with both bat and ball. An impact player.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Yes, both should not only be in squad but also in playing x1. Vijay should replace jadhav who's bowling has been figured out.

 

[RamLakhan]

Shankar unfortunately did not get much time to blossom! So even if he plays he may not come good up to expectation! But given that we are playing in England we should take this risk and he will definitely do better than Rayudu!

But Pandya has got all the exposure & time to develop! He can definitely deliver if he is fit & in form...

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Only one of them.

Shankar is bit of a blind slogger I don’t trust him much.

Pandya is definitely in. He is a superstar and a game changer.

Pandya's spot is reserved.
Vijay shankar can replace jadhav or rayudu and he isn't a blind slogger he is a proper batsman.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Pant is doing well, isnt he? And Dhoni is still a big name and a crowd puller.

Where is Pant doing well?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Get in Dhoni at 4 and Pant at 5.

Jadhav and Pandya are 6 & 7.

Dhoni is your stabilizer and the accumulator who will hold the batting from one end.

Pant is your dasher and aggressor who will take on bowling and change course of the game when click.

Jadhav does a good job at 6 as well and can be handy with spin.

Pandya is your no. 7, a power hitting batsmen and can bowl as third seamer as well.

Shankar, Krunal and Rayudu are backups.

So you are benching an in form player like Shankar and picking these so called dashers and power hitters over him?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Pandya's spot is reserved.
Vijay shankar can replace jadhav or rayudu and he isn't a blind slogger he is a proper batsman.

Playing Pandya just for the sake of it is going to cost India crucial matches in the World Cup.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Shankar unfortunately did not get much time to blossom! So even if he plays he may not come good up to expectation! But given that we are playing in England we should take this risk and he will definitely do better than Rayudu!

But Pandya has got all the exposure & time to develop! He can definitely deliver if he is fit & in form...

Lol that is true for every player isn't it? Any player can deliver if he is in form. What's so special about this line?

 

[RamLakhan]

Pandya's spot is reserved.
Vijay shankar can replace jadhav or rayudu and he isn't a blind slogger he is a proper batsman.

He is being asked to do that role (slogging) most times. If he is allowed to play properly at No.4 (especially in ODIs) he can come good!

 

[RamLakhan]

Lol that is true for every player isn't it? Any player can deliver if he is in form. What's so special about this line?

Kohli is not delivering anything for RCB (both as captain & player), I think they should throw him out and make Partiv Patel (in-form player) as captain! Don't tell that the logic don't apply for Pyjama leagues!

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Kohli is not delivering anything for RCB (both as captain & player), I think they should throw him out and make Partiv Patel (in-form player) as captain! Don't tell that the logic don't apply for Pyjama leagues!

Sorry, once again you are not making any sense. Not your day may be.

 

[RamLakhan]

Lol that is true for every player isn't it? Any player can deliver if he is in form. What's so special about this line?

An in-form Pandya can be a better match winner (and threat to opponent)! Current Dhoni & upcoming Vijay cannot be expected at that! Vijay is playing well, but he can only do the supporting role as of now (better than Rayudu). He will become a match-winner once he owns that position (No.4) and becomes a reliable 5th/6th bowler to bowl 5+ overs... FYI Pandya has won some matches for India with a significant contribution! Its a long way (big target) for him to be a complete alrounder (he many have to play a lot of county cricket which is not possible/feasible) and people expect a lot from him (Kapil, Sobers, etc), its not easy!

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Playing Pandya just for the sake of it is going to cost India crucial matches in the World Cup.

His role is important, he is a pinch hitter which is evident by his str rate and he usually has bowling figures of 45-1 after bowling 8 overs, thats good enough.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

If both are included, then they will have to drop Chahal and play Jadeja.

Rohit Sharma
Shikkar Dhawan
Virat Kohli(C)
Vijay Shankar
MS Dhoni(Wk)
Kedhar Jadhav
Hardik Pandya
Ravindera Jadeja
Bhuvneswhar Kumar
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah

 

[topspin]

Shankar makes the team first and has been a great find for India thus far.

The question is Pandya or Pant?

Latter has more hitting ability but has played just 5 ODIs, whereas Pandya offers an additional 140+ pace option in the bowling line up, which may come in handy if any of the frontl ine trio of pacers is struggling with the bat. He has holds an impressive track record as a finisher; averaging 30 at a strike rate in excess of 115.

This dilemma for the selectors is a testament to India's squad depth, featuring players competing for places in the XI.

 

[JattMaula]

Shankar makes the team first and has been a great find for India thus far.

The question is Pandya or Pant?

Latter has more hitting ability but has played just 5 ODIs, whereas Pandya offers an additional 140+ pace option in the bowling line up, which may come in handy if any of the frontl ine trio of pacers is struggling with the bat. He has holds an impressive track record as a finisher; averaging 30 at a strike rate in excess of 115.

This dilemma for the selectors is a testament to India's squad depth, featuring players competing for places in the XI.

Shankar makes it as a middle order bat. Pandya makes it as first choice pace all-rounder.

Pant can be taken as backup keeper but not really needed if KL is picked as backup opener.

 

[PakLFC]

Will Dhoni or Pant keep wicket? Give Yuv Singh a farewell outing as well. I guarantee we will defeat India in the WC this time.

 

[jagatk]

If both are included, then they will have to drop Chahal and play Jadeja.

Rohit Sharma
Shikkar Dhawan
Virat Kohli(C)
Vijay Shankar
MS Dhoni(Wk)
Kedhar Jadhav
Hardik Pandya
Ravindera Jadeja
Bhuvneswhar Kumar
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah

why on earth would we need jadeja if pandya's playing. Only reason one of the 2 leggies is dropped is because pandya isn't playing and we need someone reliable at no 7 and can't have 4 spinners in the team.

 

[Justcrazy]

It is not going to happen , Pandya will play

 

[introvert]

For that shankar need to win no.4 position.
Pandya is used as 5th bowling option mostly which is in favour of him & you can't expect shankar to bowl his full quota of overs against top teams. At his best shankar can slip in 4 or 5 overs on a good day.

 

[Ab Fan]

So you are benching an in form player like Shankar and picking these so called dashers and power hitters over him?

Not yet convinced with him as all-rounder as far as a high pressure tournament WC goes.

Pant and Pandya are needed because this is 300+ flat wickets era and with Dhoni there to hold the batting in the middle, you need some firepowers down the order to make sure the given platform by top order is maximised and not went in vain.