India doesn’t have the pace bowlers to win the World Cup

[ArsenalFC]

Rahul (not sure whether selectors/management will think alike or force him at No.4)
Dhawan
Kohli
Rohit (new role)
Dhoni (he won't go for sure)
Kartik/Pandey/Kedar/Rayudu (Actually this spot is open, but I am sure we will find one before WC)
Pandya (he will probably get a run till WC, I don't think we will risk trying another especially as its happening in England we want a seam-bowling alrounder)
Bhuvaneshwar
Shami
Kuldeep
Bumrah

We also have to find out one last time whether Jadeja & Ashwin (who does well in English conditions) can still be in scheme of things. Also Chahal, Krunal, Umesh, etc, should form good reserves.

I think with the remaining time we will sort out few things and we will definitely be competitive/strong in ICC Event as usual, but may not be firm favorites! Dhoni will be around mainly because of Kohli's lack of captaincy skills!

At last an Indian fan who acknowledges Rohit is a liability as an opener. The problem with him is his lazy attitude and poor record in the ICC ODI games, particularly against better quality bowlers like in the semi of WC 2015 and 2017 CT final.

In knockouts all he has accomplished are runs against Bangladesh last year and 2015 WC QF. In India on perfect batting wickets and small grounds he's beast but when this equation is altered he looks baffled and a bit lost, so for these reasons I wouldn't play him in the first team and have a clutch player in Raina to bat at 4 instead. Rohit can make the squad as cover.

Unfortunately Kohli is a big fan of Rohit and not so much of Rahul, so I doubt things are going to change in this respect.

 

[Bilal7]

Their leggies are world class but the pace bowlers are soft as always. They'll do a good job when everything is going their way but once the pressure is on, Kohli will have to bring his spinners on.

Australia, England, New Zealand and Pakistan can really hurt them. South Africa can do the same if they don't start spasming out as soon as their leggies get the ball.

 

[daytrader]

If MSD is captain, then it doesn't matter which pacers India plays, they'll do well

 

[Ab Fan]

India have the bowlers to win a World Cup but dont have the captain for the same.

 

[mumtaz]

I think more than the personnel, the fact that the World Cup is a pretty long tournament coming right after a very long IPL is going to test Indian players.

Most of the first team players are looking pretty jaded at the back end of IPL this year.

 

[Bilal7]

I think more than the personnel, the fact that the World Cup is a pretty long tournament coming right after a very long IPL is going to test Indian players.

Most of the first team players are looking pretty jaded at the back end of IPL this year.

How much time will they have before the IPL ends and the World Cup begins?

 

[Ab Fan]

Nobody is going to take next year IPL seriously.

Definitely not those who are international class players. I would suggest people like Bumrah and Yadav to abandon IPL next year.

 

[Napa]

Yeah....lucky India didnt choke and lose an ICC tournament final by the largest margin in history...oh wait you did lol

India's win in the 1985 final was arguably more one-sided:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...ndia-vs-pakistan-final-bh-world-champ-1984-85

 

[Rahul1]

Nobody is going to take next year IPL seriously.

Definitely not those who are international class players. I would suggest people like Bumrah and Yadav to abandon IPL next year.

Yadav is not even a part of India's odi setup.

 

[barah_admi]

How much time will they have before the IPL ends and the World Cup begins?

They'll have roughly a month but tbh it's a poor excuse to say "I'm tired."

 

[barah_admi]

India's win in the 1985 final was arguably more one-sided:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...ndia-vs-pakistan-final-bh-world-champ-1984-85

180 runs..........................

 

[Napa]

180 runs..........................

Cruising to victory with only 2 wkts down

 

[Usman Chadda]

Cruising to victory with only 2 wkts down

Can't judge from a scorecard. 99% of the posters here wouldn't even have watched that match. This CT final was an embarrassment though. One of the most ruthless beatdowns in the history of the sport.

 

[Peshwa]

Can't judge from a scorecard. 99% of the posters here wouldn't even have watched that match. This CT final was an embarrassment though. One of the most ruthless beatdowns in the history of the sport.

CT Chest thumping done for the day ✔

 

[BreadPakoda]

If India wants to win the world cup they need a better pace bowler than Bhuvi. Shami needs to remain fit and firing.

Bhuvi showing his level at ODI cricket again. Useless ODI bowler.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

We didn't had a good fast bowling attack in 2011 wc too.
We can win this world cup even with this bowling lineup but not with this middle order.

 

[Sam99]

We didn't had a good fast bowling attack in 2011 wc too.
We can win this world cup even with this bowling lineup but not with this middle order.

Zak was best and nehra + munaf did great job too.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Zak was best and nehra + munaf did great job too.

Zak was world class but so is bumrah.
I rate shami + bhuvi better than munaf+nehra. If our bowlers are able to show their best in wc than its a better fast bowling unit than what we had in 2011 wc.
And one of our bowlers usually show up in wc. Zaheer in 2011,shami in 2015,expecting bumrahbto do it in 2019

 

[Sam99]

Zak was world class but so is bumrah.
I rate shami + bhuvi better than munaf+nehra. If our bowlers are able to show their best in wc than its a better fast bowling unit than what we had in 2011 wc.
And one of our bowlers usually show up in wc. Zaheer in 2011,shami in 2015,expecting bumrahbto do it in 2019

I would actually play Bumrah, Shami & Bhuvi along with Pandya & Kuldeep.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

I would actually play Bumrah, Shami & Bhuvi along with Pandya & Kuldeep.

Yup i'll also play the same combination.
Chahal won't help much in England.

 

[enkidu_]

I would actually play Bumrah, Shami & Bhuvi along with Pandya & Kuldeep.

Bhuvi should be replaced by a fast-bowling all-rounder like Ashish Reddy. Bumrah/Shami are world class ODI bowlers but Bhuvi is too expensive. Someone like Reddy would average more or less the same (around 35) but his batting (+30/SR 110) is an extra, which would give Indian team its much needed balance (Pandya is a batting all rounder, not a bowling all rounder, so you can expect the sporadic fast 20s/30s - and what could he dot if Kohli and co fail anyway ? -, but even a somehow regular 2fer would be asking too much).

 

[Gabbar Singh]

A year before the World Cup and there are so many unanswered questions for India - the back up pace attack, the middle/lower order, the wicketkeeper batsman etc etc.