India need to revamp their middle-order or face humiliation in the 2019 World Cup

[Ab Fan]

I'd back the top 4, one of Sharma,Dhawan, kohli or Rahul to bat through 90% of the games. Remaining 10% well Dhoni can provide the stability and Pant and Pandya can hit around him. Inspite of dhoni absolutely useless with the bat we need him for his captaincy and keeping skill. He's still 10 times the limited overs captain kohli is and his presence will definitely help India with regards to field placings and bowling changes.
I would still go with bhuvi over someone like khaleel (who is very raw) and shami (who is injury prone and totally lost any batting ability he had). These players might not be the best in the respective department but when put together they add up the balance of the team.
I definitely feel this is the best xi we can put up in the wc next year. Only other option I see is Raina in place of Pant.

As per looks of things, Rahul at 4 doesn't look happening. It seems he will mostly be kept as a backup opener.

 

[MP2011]

How about trying Krunal Pandya & Krishanappa Gowtham?

Krunal,Hardik & Gowtham are the 3 best sloggers we have in the country who can also bowl
They can bat at 6,7 & 8 which would mean we will have depth in batting and also 6 genuine bowling options

Unless you try someone how come you know their utility.

But these players have totally blocked anyone else's path to Indian team.

 

[MP2011]

India need to get rid of Dhoni. They are going in with 10 players and a DRS expert at the moment. India should back themselves as the favourites for the World Cup but they'll be kicking themselves if an important game comes down to the middle order and they have to depend on Dhoni the great.

Dhoni is one of the greatest ever in ODIs but right now he'd struggle against an U19 team.

Couldnt have said it better myself!

 

[battler]

As per looks of things, Rahul at 4 doesn't look happening. It seems he will mostly be kept as a backup opener.

That's really sad because Sharma and Dhawan are too good at the top to even think of replacing and a guy as talented as Rahul has no business being out of the team especially when hacks like karthik and Rayudu are making the team

 

[MP2011]

Because of the selfishness of some players (*cough cough* Dhoni) and the ineptitude and complete cluelessness of the selectors and management there’s hardly any time left to let some new guys settle into the side before the WC. They have done this deliberately so that their favourite players and buddies can stay in the side.

Can't agree more. Watching Dhoni bat is such a pain!

 

[Balthazar]

What you are saying works in T20s. Not in ODIs.

A middle order batsman's job is to finish the innings.

Ideally I would like Dhoni to bat at 4 and have a strokemaker at no 5. But Pant doesn't give me that confidence because he hasn't yet learnt how to stick around for a long time in 50-over games.

Pant is a brilliant talent and I can understand why so many fans are so eager to fast-track him into the ODI squad. But I have seen his List A innings in the ongoing Vinay Hazare and he is not ready for that format yet. I am 100% sure of it.

That's true. But when exactly did Dhoni finish the innings for India. Not only he cannot score runs but his sluggish runrate puts pressure on other batsmen.

 

[Mamoon]

No humiliation. They have the best top three and the best bowling attack in the world - they can afford to carry a weak middle-order. As things stand, they are the favorites along with England.

However, it is true that they need to revamp the middle-order. A cricketing country with the batting pedigree of India should not carry B grade players like Rayudu, Kartik and Jadhav.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

But but dhoni will become a superman if he comes at no. 4.Ridiculous, dhoni's fanbase is cancerous.

 

[the_outsider]

That's true. But when exactly did Dhoni finish the innings for India. Not only he cannot score runs but his sluggish runrate puts pressure on other batsmen.

That's true. And that is the real problem with the team right now. Dhoni has to finish innings again.

But bringing in Pant is not the solution.

I have been following Delhi's matches in the VH Trophy and after watching him bat it is clear to me that Pant hasn't figured out the 50-over format yet. He lacks clarity of thought in this format and without that no batsman can become consistent.

Pant should be playing every T20I for India from now on and Dhoni should be asked to retire or dropped from T20Is.

But Pant is not the hero India is looking for in ODIs. Not yet.

 

[the_outsider]

No humiliation. They have the best top three and the best bowling attack in the world - they can afford to carry a weak middle-order. As things stand, they are the favorites along with England.

However, it is true that they need to revamp the middle-order. A cricketing country with the batting pedigree of India should not carry B grade players like Rayudu, Kartik and Jadhav.

Sorry [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]. Have to disagree with you. Jadhav is a very good player to have in this Indian XI.

1. Unlike the likes of KL, Shaw, Gill, etc, Jadhav has actually been a middle order batsman all his career and knows the requirements of that role better than any of them.

2. His List A avg of 46 and SR of 106 over 130+ matches shows that he has performed that role better than anyone. Even top order players like Iyer, Bawne, Rayadu, etc do not have numbers as good as this.

3. He has proved himself on 350+ wickets - the kind of wickets the WC will be played at. In the English tour of India, 2017, Jadhav scored 240 runs across 3 matches, at a SR of 145. He won the 1st game with a century when India were 4 down for 60 odd and almost pulled off another unlikely victory for India in the 3rd match, where he scored 90+.

4. He has shown that he has the mindset to be able to finish off innings - be it in ODIs, Vijay Hazare games or the IPL. At a time where Dhoni is no longer a finisher, Jadhav's ability to finish the innings off is priceless.

In my opinion, Jadhav is the only middle order batsman who has justified his place in the side. And he has done so with very good performances.

Batting avg of 41 and SR of 110.
Bowling avg of 29 and ER of 4.6.

I don't think there is any player with these kind of numbers who gets as much hate as Kedar Jadhav.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

No humiliation. They have the best top three and the best bowling attack in the world - they can afford to carry a weak middle-order. As things stand, they are the favorites along with England.

However, it is true that they need to revamp the middle-order. A cricketing country with the batting pedigree of India should not carry B grade players like Rayudu, Kartik and Jadhav.

Jadhav is under-rated.

 

[AMSS]

That's true. And that is the real problem with the team right now. Dhoni has to finish innings again.

But bringing in Pant is not the solution.

I have been following Delhi's matches in the VH Trophy and after watching him bat it is clear to me that Pant hasn't figured out the 50-over format yet. He lacks clarity of thought in this format and without that no batsman can become consistent.

Pant should be playing every T20I for India from now on and Dhoni should be asked to retire or dropped from T20Is.

But Pant is not the hero India is looking for in ODIs. Not yet.

Pant may not be the hero but Dhoni is certainly a villain. Ergo.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Pant is a must.

 

[AMSS]

Chahal too is a beneficiary of favoritism although flies under the radar. Instead of Chahal, India could do with a player in the mold of Krunal Pandya who can reliably bowl 10 overs AND add real firepower to the line-up.

If this Indian set-up weren't so up their behinds running a mutual back scratching society, we'd see a line-up like below going into the WC:

Dhawan
Rohit
Kohli
KLR
Pant
Jadhav/any other suitable candidate
Krunal
Hardik
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah

Bhuvi and Kuldeep may not have the long handle needed but very capable batsmen otherwise.

 

[the_outsider]

Chahal too is a beneficiary of favoritism although flies under the radar. Instead of Chahal, India could do with a player in the mold of Krunal Pandya who can reliably bowl 10 overs AND add real firepower to the line-up.

What exactly does Krunal bring to the table that Jadeja doesn't?

Krunal regularly goes for 6 RPO in domestic matches. When he plays for India A he doesn't finish his overs half the time. Do you think he will last at the international stage? He will go at 10 RPO.

Please do not have this mentality of picking 50 over teams from the IPL. This is exactly what PCB does and look what their team has become!

 

[Mamoon]

Sorry [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]. Have to disagree with you. Jadhav is a very good player to have in this Indian XI.

1. Unlike the likes of KL, Shaw, Gill, etc, Jadhav has actually been a middle order batsman all his career and knows the requirements of that role better than any of them.

2. His List A avg of 46 and SR of 106 over 130+ matches shows that he has performed that role better than anyone. Even top order players like Iyer, Bawne, Rayadu, etc do not have numbers as good as this.

3. He has proved himself on 350+ wickets - the kind of wickets the WC will be played at. In the English tour of India, 2017, Jadhav scored 240 runs across 3 matches, at a SR of 145. He won the 1st game with a century when India were 4 down for 60 odd and almost pulled off another unlikely victory for India in the 3rd match, where he scored 90+.

4. He has shown that he has the mindset to be able to finish off innings - be it in ODIs, Vijay Hazare games or the IPL. At a time where Dhoni is no longer a finisher, Jadhav's ability to finish the innings off is priceless.

In my opinion, Jadhav is the only middle order batsman who has justified his place in the side. And he has done so with very good performances.

Batting avg of 41 and SR of 110.
Bowling avg of 29 and ER of 4.6.

I don't think there is any player with these kind of numbers who gets as much hate as Kedar Jadhav.

It might sound harsh to club him with Rayudu and Kartik because he has some very good performances under his belt, but I do not believe he fits the profile of the Indian team under Kohli.

India is a batting powerhouse and should look to replace him with a younger, more athletic batsman with a higher ceiling.

Jadhav is 33 and not a good fielder either. He looks out of place in this team and a temporary solution. If not before the World Cup, India should definitely look to incorporate a younger batsman in his stead after the World Cup.

 

[AMSS]

What exactly does Krunal bring to the table that Jadeja doesn't?

Krunal regularly goes for 6 RPO in domestic matches. When he plays for India A he doesn't finish his overs half the time. Do you think he will last at the international stage? He will go at 10 RPO.

Please do not have this mentality of picking 50 over teams from the IPL. This is exactly what PCB does and look what their team has become!

Krunal brings the quality I value the most in a cricketer. Not wilting when the heat is on. Aside from that, he brings SLA bowling every bit as good as Jadeja, but also a batting firepower well beyond the abilities of Dhoni's favorite child. Please also don't jibber on about mentality when you wouldn't know squat about it.

 

[RamLakhan]

Pant not in Asia Cup Squad is a direct reflection of Dhoni's insecurity! In one of the matches had Pant played and shone, it would have put immense pressure on selection committee to drop Dhoni! Hence they opted for DK as the deputy keeper as he plays within the limitation!

 

[AMSS]

It might sound harsh to club him with Rayudu and Kartik because he has some very good performances under his belt, but I do not believe he fits the profile of the Indian team under Kohli.

India is a batting powerhouse and should look to replace him with a younger, more athletic batsman with a higher ceiling.

Jadhav is 33 and not a good fielder either. He looks out of place in this team and a temporary solution. If not before the World Cup, India should definitely look to incorporate a younger batsman in his stead after the World Cup.

What you say is not wrong. There is an archetype of a traditional Indian batsman and Jadhav doesn't fit it at all. He's neither young with potential nor classical and technical by any means.

There are a few other candidates but the ship has sailed for them. Poor planning means there simply isn't enough time for others to audition for the WC.

I can think of 4 candidates in particular who could have been inducted in time if there was enough urgency shown by the meek chief selector, MSK Prasad. Shaw, Gill, Pant, and Krunal.

 

[AMSS]

Pant not in Asia Cup Squad is a direct reflection of Dhoni's insecurity! In one of the matches had Pant played and shone, it would have put immense pressure on selection committee to drop Dhoni! Hence they opted for DK as the deputy keeper as he plays within the limitation!

Spot on. Who selects a 30 something player who has a history of bottling it and averages 30?

 

[the_outsider]

Krunal brings the quality I value the most in a cricketer. Not wilting when the heat is on. Aside from that, he brings SLA bowling every bit as good as Jadeja, but also a batting firepower well beyond the abilities of Dhoni's favorite child. Please also don't jibber on about mentality when you wouldn't know squat about it.

Please look at cricket beyond the cheerleading bubble of IPL.

Krunal is a poor man's Jadeja. He does not make it in to the ODI squad.

Krunal is as good as bowler as Jadeja? LMAO!

And what makes you think Jadeja wilts under pressure? Do you think we would have won yesterday without Jadeja? He came out to bat with 63 runs to get and got out when it was down to 11. Do you think India would have tied against Afg if Jadeja didn't bat till the end? Did you not see Jadeja score 86* batting with the tail in England in his first innings on the tour? I'm guessing if you have forgotten that you must have forgotten the 66* he scored to tie against NZ in 2014 when he came in to bat with 130 to get in 90 balls.

Mentality! Lol! You think hitting a few sizes over cow corner in domestic T20s on a flat, Wankhede pitch is "mental strength"? Are you kidding me?

Krunal is a quality T20 player. And that's it. He isn't even half the player Jadeja is!

 

[AMSS]

Please look at cricket beyond the cheerleading bubble of IPL.

Krunal is a poor man's Jadeja. He does not make it in to the ODI squad.

Krunal is as good as bowler as Jadeja? LMAO!

And what makes you think Jadeja wilts under pressure? Do you think we would have won yesterday without Jadeja? He came out to bat with 63 runs to get and got out when it was down to 11. Do you think India would have tied against Afg if Jadeja didn't bat till the end? Did you not see Jadeja score 86* batting with the tail in England in his first innings on the tour? I'm guessing if you have forgotten that you must have forgotten the 66* he scored to tie against NZ in 2014 when he came in to bat with 130 to get in 90 balls.

Mentality! Lol! You think hitting a few sizes over cow corner in domestic T20s on a flat, Wankhede pitch is "mental strength"? Are you kidding me?

Krunal is a quality T20 player. And that's it. He isn't even half the player Jadeja is!

Decent rant. Unfortunately, LOLs and LMAOs don't make for good argument or change facts. Good day.

 

[Mamoon]

What you say is not wrong. There is an archetype of a traditional Indian batsman and Jadhav doesn't fit it at all. He's neither young with potential nor classical and technical by any means.

There are a few other candidates but the ship has sailed for them. Poor planning means there simply isn't enough time for others to audition for the WC.

I can think of 4 candidates in particular who could have been inducted in time if there was enough urgency shown by the meek chief selector, MSK Prasad. Shaw, Gill, Pant, and Krunal.

Jadhav looks more of a Pakistani (although he would be our best batsman now), Sri Lankan or a Bangladeshi batsman than an Indian one.

Gill, Shaw and Pant look like the real deals to me. Samson as well, although I haven’t heard much about him for a while. At least two of them should have stellar careers for India across formats, but it seems that the selectors are not interested in revamping the middle-order until the World Cup is over.

Pant should have been India’s T20I wicket-keeper by now, and this Asia Cup was a good opportunity to give a chance to Gill as well.

Dhoni should have retired from T20Is in 2016-17 when he relinquished captaincy. In fact the World T20 2016 on Indian soil was the perfect opportunity for Dhoni to bow out and allow India to give an opportunity to his future replacement.

 

[the_outsider]

It might sound harsh to club him with Rayudu and Kartik because he has some very good performances under his belt, but I do not believe he fits the profile of the Indian team under Kohli.

India is a batting powerhouse and should look to replace him with a younger, more athletic batsman with a higher ceiling.

Jadhav is 33 and not a good fielder either. He looks out of place in this team and a temporary solution. If not before the World Cup, India should definitely look to incorporate a younger batsman in his stead after the World Cup.

He is definitely a temporary solution. Because he is already 33.

And yes, he doesn't fit the typical image of an Indian batsman.

But none of that should detract from the fact he does his role remarkably well and makes the team on merit and performance.

I feel he is going to be a real asset in the WC because he is good against spin and is going to love facing pace on those flat English tracks.

Dhawan, Kedar and Hardik are the only players in the squad capable of going at a 100+ SR right from the start.

 

[the_outsider]

Decent rant. Unfortunately, LOLs and LMAOs don't make for good argument or change facts. Good day.

What fact? You haven't started a single fact or stat. All you have given is your personal opinion of how much you heart Krunal Pandya.

 

[cricketjoshila]

I think Indian fans don't realize they don't have many options. Msd, rayudu and Karthik are the best you got. And this is not the time to try out new player with World Cup looming.

Heard of Pant Shaw Iyer or even Gill or Mayank?

 

[AMSS]

Jadhav looks more of a Pakistani (although he would be our best batsman now), Sri Lankan or a Bangladeshi batsman than an Indian one.

Gill, Shaw and Pant look like the real deals to me. Samson as well, although I haven’t heard much about him for a while. At least two of them should have stellar careers for India across formats, but it seems that the selectors are not interested in revamping the middle-order until the World Cup is over.

Pant should have been India’s T20I wicket-keeper by now, and this Asia Cup was a good opportunity to give a chance to Gill as well.

Dhoni should have retired from T20Is in 2016-17 when he relinquished captaincy. In fact the World T20 2016 on Indian soil was the perfect opportunity for Dhoni to bow out and allow India to give an opportunity to his future replacement.

But have you considered that Dhoni's brand appeal is completely dependent on the airtime he receives in India jersey? Retiring from national duty means a loss of 10-12 million USD in annual income.

 

[RamLakhan]

If they are not corrupt, then I think they at least have this mad thinking and lame opinion that since MSD is so experienced his role is vital in World Cup and current Indian team! This is what they are thinking (Shastri, Kolhi, selectors, etc!) But they should understand that Australia won continuous world cups with different captains and almost different teams! Whereas Dhoni is playing 4 straight world cups (2 as captain and 1 as ghost captain!)

 

[jnaveen1980]

If they are not corrupt, then I think they at least have this mad thinking and lame opinion that since MSD is so experienced his role is vital in World Cup and current Indian team! This is what they are thinking (Shastri, Kolhi, selectors, etc!) But they should understand that Australia won continuous world cups with different captains and almost different teams! Whereas Dhoni is playing 4 straight world cups (2 as captain and 1 as ghost captain!)

lol@Ghost captain

 

[RyanRyan10]

If they are not corrupt, then I think they at least have this mad thinking and lame opinion that since MSD is so experienced his role is vital in World Cup and current Indian team! This is what they are thinking (Shastri, Kolhi, selectors, etc!) But they should understand that Australia won continuous world cups with different captains and almost different teams! Whereas Dhoni is playing 4 straight world cups (2 as captain and 1 as ghost captain!)

Dhoni backed Kohli to get Shastri as coach

Now he has become a bechara that he isn't being allowed to bat at 4 where he would become a Shaktimaan even though it can be clearly seen that he struggles to rotate strike against spinners

 

[RyanRyan10]

Shreyas Iyer scored 61(64) today in the warmup match against Windies

In Vijay Hazare Trophy he has scored of 56*,144 & 110 Has a SR of 100+

No one is discussing about him

He was given just 5 Odi innings & in that he scored couple of 50s and a score of 30 where he added 60 with Rohit for the 4th wicket.

But then He was dropped even though he hadn't failed

he should be the no.4 IMO if They don't pick Rahul for that position

I think he should have been played at 4 in SA but then Rahane was called back which pushed Iyer to 5 where he could get just 2 opportunities to bat in the whole series

 

[the_outsider]

Shreyas Iyer scored 61(64) today in the warmup match against Windies

In Vijay Hazare Trophy he has scored of 56*,144 & 110 Has a SR of 100+

No one is discussing about him

He was given just 5 Odi innings & in that he scored couple of 50s and a score of 30 where he added 60 with Rohit for the 4th wicket.

But then He was dropped even though he hadn't failed

he should be the no.4 IMO if They don't pick Rahul for that position

I think he should have been played at 4 in SA but then Rahane was called back which pushed Iyer to 5 where he could get just 2 opportunities to bat in the whole series

I think Iyer will be in contention for the no 4 slot in the WI series. I'm guessing now that Rayadu is probably out of contention (DK is definitely out) the competition is now between Manish Pandey and Iyer.

 

[cricketindiafan]

I think Iyer will be in contention for the no 4 slot in the WI series. I'm guessing now that Rayadu is probably out of contention (DK is definitely out) the competition is now between Manish Pandey and Iyer.

Going by post match comments of Rohit and Shastri, dont expect changes unless there are injuries. Rohit has urged patience with middle order and Shastri felt they were great under pressure.

Only way Shaw and Pant can come in is by scoring big in WI tests.

 

[rhony]

Shreyas Iyer scored 61(64) today in the warmup match against Windies

In Vijay Hazare Trophy he has scored of 56*,144 & 110 Has a SR of 100+

No one is discussing about him

He was given just 5 Odi innings & in that he scored couple of 50s and a score of 30 where he added 60 with Rohit for the 4th wicket.

But then He was dropped even though he hadn't failed

he should be the no.4 IMO if They don't pick Rahul for that position

I think he should have been played at 4 in SA but then Rahane was called back which pushed Iyer to 5 where he could get just 2 opportunities to bat in the whole series

It was so painful to watch him play on those SA pitches. He looked like a hack. Those were flatties and a bit of bounce bothered him.

 

[the_outsider]

Only way Shaw and Pant can come in is by scoring big in WI tests.

Shaw is an opener and has no place in the ODI squad at this point. Our top order is sorted.

And Pant still hasn't figured out his 50-over game (List A avg of 29) so I don't think he's in contention anyway.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Heard of Pant Shaw Iyer or even Gill or Mayank?

Yes and I've seen how your famed Rahul failed horribly in England too. I can only imagine what happens when these guys would debut

 

[austerlitz]

Team for 2019 -

Dhawan
Sharma
Kohli
Rahul(to come in at 3 if wkt falls within 10 overs)/Iyer
Gill/Shaw(shaw also reserve opener)
Pant
Pandya
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Chahal

Thats 13 picks

Reserves -

Jadeja
Kedar Yadav
Umesh
Shami
Khaleel
Rayudu
Dhoni

20 man squad.

 

[austerlitz]

Shaw is an opener and has no place in the ODI squad at this point. Our top order is sorted.

And Pant still hasn't figured out his 50-over game (List A avg of 29) so I don't think he's in contention anyway.

I have always maintained always play your best 5 batsmen as top 5.
Shaw is the most prolific player in domestics along with agarwal atm.This position is a sad excuse.
Ricky ponting played 4-5 years at 5-6 position.
Tendulkar played 5 years at 5 and 6.
If the player is good he will adapt.Simple as that.
You have to pick quality and back them.

 

[rhony]

I have always maintained always play your best 5 batsmen as top 5.
Shaw is the most prolific player in domestics along with agarwal atm.This position is a sad excuse.
Ricky ponting played 4-5 years at 5-6 position.
Tendulkar played 5 years at 5 and 6.
If the player is good he will adapt.Simple as that.
You have to pick quality and back them.

Good points and that was the hope with Rahul as well. He is incredibly talented and has all the makings of a super star and could be a block buster batsman along with top 3. But he is a mental midget. He is set on that opening slot and seems to be happy sitting on the bench as a back up opener.

 

[rhony]

Team for 2019 -

Dhawan
Sharma
Kohli
Rahul(to come in at 3 if wkt falls within 10 overs)/Iyer
Gill/Shaw(shaw also reserve opener)
Pant
Pandya
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Chahal

Thats 13 picks

Reserves -

Jadeja
Kedar Yadav
Umesh
Shami
Khaleel
Rayudu
Dhoni

20 man squad.

4 to 6 in your list have a combined experience of 20 games. Not good enough for a tournament like WC. They should have made these changes and year ago. It's too late now

 

[WengerOut]

4 to 6 in your list have a combined experience of 20 games. Not good enough for a tournament like WC. They should have made these changes and year ago. It's too late now

What do you think will happen if we put the supposed experienced ones instead?

 

[dhurandharj]

Pant is a huge over rated player. Shami should be in !! Raina oozes more confidence than our current middle order batch. Sreyas Iyer should have been given a longer run.but now we have to live or die with this middle order in England. The difference of 30 runs each match.

 

[MP2011]

Good points and that was the hope with Rahul as well. He is incredibly talented and has all the makings of a super star and could be a block buster batsman along with top 3. But he is a mental midget. He is set on that opening slot and seems to be happy sitting on the bench as a back up opener.

Well said about Rahul.

He has proved time and again that there aren't many overrated players than him in current cricket.

How can you say no to playing cricket for your country even if that means playing at no. 11 for your country?

Had batting position been a criteria then likes of Tendulkar and Sehwag won't have achieved what they eventually achieved!

So really poor from Rahul! Selectors are really wasting a slot on him. Ideally should have picked Shaw to be an understudy of Dhawan-Rohit instead of him.

 

[austerlitz]

Pant is a huge over rated player. Shami should be in !! Raina oozes more confidence than our current middle order batch. Sreyas Iyer should have been given a longer run.but now we have to live or die with this middle order in England. The difference of 30 runs each match.

THIS MIDDLE ORDER NEEDS TO GO!!I HOPE WE LOSE 5-0 in australia in ODIs if thats what it takes.Shastri and Kohli need a massive drubbing to force them to take action.

 

[austerlitz]

I think Iyer will be in contention for the no 4 slot in the WI series. I'm guessing now that Rayadu is probably out of contention (DK is definitely out) the competition is now between Manish Pandey and Iyer.

I think shastri and dhoni and kohli will drag csk boy rayudu and hopeless DK in WI series as well.Feeling incredibly frustrated right now.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Everyone of this rotten middle order needs to be thrown out root and branch.

Rayudu
Dhoni
Karthik
Yadav

Need to play these players -

Pant
Rahul
Iyer
Shaw
Gill

and find out who can fit in.

Shaw is an opener, Can't expect an opener to suddenly come in and start smashing runs. Root did that, and Rahul has done that in T20is, but not everyone can be expected to do that.
Plus Rahul's ODI's performance isn't really that better than the incumbents. Averages around 32 with SR of 80. In LA his strike rate falls down to 73.

 

[austerlitz]

Shaw is an opener, Can't expect an opener to suddenly come in and start smashing runs. Root did that, and Rahul has done that in T20is, but not everyone can be expected to do that.
Plus Rahul's ODI's performance isn't really that better than the incumbents. Averages around 32 with SR of 80. In LA his strike rate falls down to 73.

As i said,invest in quality instead of mediocrity.Your top 5 should always be best 5 batsmen,regardless of position.If they are good enough they will adapt.Ponting and tendulkar played 5 years at number 6.
Numbers 4 and 5 should go to -Iyer/Shaw/Rahul/Gill.These are all quality,back them like ganguly used to do with youngsters and get these buddhas out.Even if they fail early on,they cant be worse than these TTFs.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

As i said,invest in quality instead of mediocrity.Your top 5 should always be best 5 batsmen,regardless of position.If they are good enough they will adapt.Ponting and tendulkar played 5 years at number 6.
Numbers 4 and 5 should go to -Iyer/Shaw/Rahul/Gill.These are all quality,back them like ganguly used to do with youngsters and get these buddhas out.Even if they fail early on,they cant be worse than these TTFs.

well apart from Dinesh Karthik no one is really a TTF in indian batting lineup in LOI's. Dhoni will be done after WC. Pandey doesn't have a big enough sample size to judge him.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Team for 2019 -

Dhawan
Sharma
Kohli
Rahul(to come in at 3 if wkt falls within 10 overs)/Iyer
Gill/Shaw(shaw also reserve opener)
Pant
Pandya
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Chahal

Thats 13 picks

Reserves -

Jadeja
Kedar Yadav
Umesh
Shami
Khaleel
Rayudu
Dhoni

20 man squad.

Who will be the 6th bowler in the team?

 

[austerlitz]

Who will be the 6th bowler in the team?

Don't need one.

 

[the_outsider]

Don't need one.

Then we can kiss the goodbye.

Our 5th bowler isn't exactly McGrath. He will have bad days. And then we'll be screwed.

 

[B_Positive]

I think Indian fans don't realize they don't have many options. Msd, rayudu and Karthik are the best you got. And this is not the time to try out new player with World Cup looming.

This is like saying Pakistan dont have enough options of left arm fast bowling

 

[RyanRyan10]

Then we can kiss the �� goodbye.

Our 5th bowler isn't exactly McGrath. He will have bad days. And then we'll be screwed.

Our 5th bowler isn't even Watson who played with likes of Symonds & Clarke as backups

 

[rhony]

well apart from Dinesh Karthik no one is really a TTF in indian batting lineup in LOI's. Dhoni will be done after WC. Pandey doesn't have a big enough sample size to judge him.

Pandey is a bonafide TTF. That hundred in Australia was an aberration

 

[rhony]

What do you think will happen if we put the supposed experienced ones instead?

It appears Indian team will just give up chasing 300+ if the top 3 get out. They are relying on bowlers to restrict the opposition to 250. The current middle order can chase down those scores. In a way, the ascendency in the Indian bowling has saved Dhoni's a**.

 

[the_outsider]

Pandey is a bonafide TTF. That hundred in Australia was an aberration

Nonsense. How can someone be tagged a TTF after just 18 innings?

Even in those 18 innings he never got to play more than 4 matches in a row.

 

[austerlitz]

Then we can kiss the �� goodbye.

Our 5th bowler isn't exactly McGrath. He will have bad days. And then we'll be screwed.

If he has bad day,i dont see a part timer having a better one.Kedar can only play if dhoni is replaced and 4 and 5 are good batsmen.I wouldnt want a lower order of pant,kedar,hardik - its too unreliable and will lose us matches far more than 5 bowlers.Need iyer/shaw/gill/agarwal/rahul at 4 and 5.Number can be pant or i dread it -dhoni.

 

[austerlitz]

Nonsense. How can someone be tagged a TTF after just 18 innings?

Even in those 18 innings he never got to play more than 4 matches in a row.

You can see it in his batting.He doesnt have the xfactor.He looks like a supoort role guy.Top 5 needs to be top notch.

 

[the_outsider]

You can see it in his batting.He doesnt have the xfactor.He looks like a supoort role guy.Top 5 needs to be top notch.

Support guy won us the only ODI in Australia in 2016 with an unbeaten century in a chase.

If you look at his last three India A tours he has finished off games time and again. The guy knows how to take a game deep. That is exactly what we need from a number 4 or 5.

I know his technique isn't the best and sometimes he looks ugly but he can get the job done.

I know you believe in having the best possible batsmen in the top 5. But I believe in today's cricket, role-specific personnel are very important. And I know that the Indian think-tank also thinks so. In fact, most good teams have the same thinking.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Support guy won us the only ODI in Australia in 2016 with an unbeaten century in a chase.

If you look at his last three India A tours he has finished off games time and again. The guy knows how to take a game deep. That is exactly what we need from a number 4 or 5.

I know his technique isn't the best and sometimes he looks ugly but he can get the job done.

I know you believe in having the best possible batsmen in the top 5. But I believe in today's cricket, role-specific personnel are very important. And I know that the Indian think-tank also thinks so. In fact, most good teams have the same thinking.

One match doesn't mean anything.
This guy has been given many chances in odi t20s. He isn't dynamic enough to play as no. 4 we. Kl rahul is much better.
No. 4 requires stroke making ability and this guy sucks at it. He plays odi in t20s.

 

[the_outsider]

One match doesn't mean anything.
This guy has been given many chances in odi t20s. He isn't dynamic enough to play as no. 4 we. Kl rahul is much better.
No. 4 requires stroke making ability and this guy sucks at it. He plays odi in t20s.

Manish Pandey is not a T20 player. I repeat, he is not. I know he became a popular name among Indians after his century in the IPL but he not a T20 batsman.

ODI is the best format for him. And he has barely been given a consistent run there. Only 18 innings and even in that he's only gotten 4 games in a row once and 3 games in in a row once. Rest 11 innings are all scattered, with one innings here and other there.

As far as KL Rahul is concerned, he himself doesn't want to play in the middle order. And I think that is the right decision. He's an excellent opener and there is no need to mess with his game just to force him into the no 4 slot. There are many talented batsmen in India. I'm sure we'll find our no 4/5 by the time the NZ tour starts.

In my opinion that vacant slot in the middle order should should go to Pandey or Iyer.

PS: Pandey is also the 2nd best fielder in India. You saw how Jadeja's runout in the Asia Cup final turned the match around. Imagine having Jadeja, Pandey, Hardik, Kohli and Rohit in the 30-yard circle. It will be impossible for the opposition to steal quick singles.

 

[BDfanforever]

No humiliation. They have the best top three and the best bowling attack in the world - they can afford to carry a weak middle-order. As things stand, they are the favorites along with England.

However, it is true that they need to revamp the middle-order. A cricketing country with the batting pedigree of India should not carry B grade players like Rayudu, Kartik and Jadhav.

They have the best bowling attack against Subcontinent teams.

If they struggle against Hong Kong openers, how do you think they will fare against Jason Roy, Jos Butler, Root and co in England?

 

[the_outsider]

They have the best bowling attack against Subcontinent teams.

If they struggle against Hong Kong openers, how do you think they will fare against Jason Roy, Jos Butler, Root and co in England?

Not too bad I think.

Last series against:

NZ was 2-1
Aus was 4-1
SA was 5-1

And against England in 2018 it was 1-2 without Bumrah and Bhuvi. In 2017, when both were fit and in the XI it was 2-1 in favour of India.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Manish Pandey is not a T20 player. I repeat, he is not. I know he became a popular name among Indians after his century in the IPL but he not a T20 batsman.

ODI is the best format for him. And he has barely been given a consistent run there. Only 18 innings and even in that he's only gotten 4 games in a row once and 3 games in in a row once. Rest 11 innings are all scattered, with one innings here and other there.

As far as KL Rahul is concerned, he himself doesn't want to play in the middle order. And I think that is the right decision. He's an excellent opener and there is no need to mess with his game just to force him into the no 4 slot. There are many talented batsmen in India. I'm sure we'll find our no 4/5 by the time the NZ tour starts.

In my opinion that vacant slot in the middle order should should go to Pandey or Iyer.

PS: Pandey is also the 2nd best fielder in India. You saw how Jadeja's runout in the Asia Cup final turned the match around. Imagine having Jadeja, Pandey, Hardik, Kohli and Rohit in the 30-yard circle. It will be impossible for the opposition to steal quick singles.

"
As far as KL Rahul is concerned, he himself doesn't want to play in the middle order. And I think that is the right decision."
Did he say that.

 

[the_outsider]

"
As far as KL Rahul is concerned, he himself doesn't want to play in the middle order. And I think that is the right decision."
Did he say that.

Not directly. But yes, that is the indication he gave during a press conference.

 

[rhony]

Support guy won us the only ODI in Australia in 2016 with an unbeaten century in a chase.

If you look at his last three India A tours he has finished off games time and again. The guy knows how to take a game deep. That is exactly what we need from a number 4 or 5.

I know his technique isn't the best and sometimes he looks ugly but he can get the job done.

I know you believe in having the best possible batsmen in the top 5. But I believe in today's cricket, role-specific personnel are very important. And I know that the Indian think-tank also thinks so. In fact, most good teams have the same thinking.

That's what he is. Excellent 'A' team guy. Don't think he graduated to the next level.

 

[WengerOut]

It appears Indian team will just give up chasing 300+ if the top 3 get out. They are relying on bowlers to restrict the opposition to 250. The current middle order can chase down those scores. In a way, the ascendency in the Indian bowling has saved Dhoni's a**.

Sure our bowling has improved, but not by that much that we can rely on them being supreme for most days. Even if score is 250, we kind of huff and puff to the score. England will be a run fest and it will be all about out punching teams and in that India will fall flat.

 

[fitCricFan]

Well, they prefer humiliation. Since the batting is so atrocious for the middle order, only #1,2,3 and 7,8,9,10 will bat

 

[charlie007]

is the second best batsman in the team, don't disturb it!

May be in Subcontinent conditions, not in England. Don’t forget, it will be exaggerated swing very likely during the months of the world cup.

 

[BaankeJi]

KL is too hard to resist. He will not be kept on bench if middle order keeps failing.
KL will come in place of Rayudu.
Karthik and Jadhav have earnt their places in XI.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

May be in Subcontinent conditions, not in England. Don’t forget, it will be exaggerated swing very likely during the months of the world cup.

He scored heavily in ct 2017 in england

 

[BreadPakoda]

Absolutely mind boggling why DK, Dhoni et. al are being given chances.
Dinesh Karthik? Are you for real? Is he really the best middle order batsman that we have in our country?

Kohli played in the middle/lower middle order in his initial days. Why can't Shaw or Gill be allowed to do that? Shreyas Iyer might still not be the best bet, but why was he given only a couple of chances to prove himself? And he did well!

Pant? Why wasn't he in the squad in place of Dhoni for an inconsequential Asia cup? Hard to understand.

Feels like Dhoni is using his clout to run things. He chucked Gambhir, Sehwag out for being old, and now his pitch white beard defines hypocrisy.

 

[DuckMaster]

In england we must go with 3 pace bowlers. Bumrah, bhuvi and khalil.
Lets play jadeja, pandya and kuldeep/chahal.
4 batsman rohit, dhawan, kohli, rahul.
1 keeper dhoni.

This will b good combination in england.
Although i will love to have pant in place of dhoni.

Behad kamzor batting, bhai. Nahin?

 

[DuckMaster]

Manish Pandey is not a T20 player. I repeat, he is not. I know he became a popular name among Indians after his century in the IPL but he not a T20 batsman.

ODI is the best format for him. And he has barely been given a consistent run there. Only 18 innings and even in that he's only gotten 4 games in a row once and 3 games in in a row once. Rest 11 innings are all scattered, with one innings here and other there.

As far as KL Rahul is concerned, he himself doesn't want to play in the middle order. And I think that is the right decision. He's an excellent opener and there is no need to mess with his game just to force him into the no 4 slot. There are many talented batsmen in India. I'm sure we'll find our no 4/5 by the time the NZ tour starts.

In my opinion that vacant slot in the middle order should should go to Pandey or Iyer.

PS: Pandey is also the 2nd best fielder in India. You saw how Jadeja's runout in the Asia Cup final turned the match around. Imagine having Jadeja, Pandey, Hardik, Kohli and Rohit in the 30-yard circle. It will be impossible for the opposition to steal quick singles.

(About Manish Pandey) Bhai, aapke charan kahan hain? Pranam! Someone ideally suited to the format... gave early signs of his natural belongingness to the format... but ignored (the kind of sporadic opportunities he is being given seem more a plan by the powers that be than a coincidence) and wasted by our genius cricket management. The power trio of Kohli, Dhoni, and Shastri don't like him a bit (all personal, don't know the reasons.. Rohit is sure to play, so I can't figure out what else)... it's more than evident.

Manish has a very balanced head on his shoulders with a great ability to read the demands of the game in the 50 Over format. He can handle pressure better than most current first XI players. He is inarguably the best boundary rider in India. He is easily amongst the best 3 fielders in India anywhere on the field.

I can imagine what it might take to be Manish Pandey today. It might be even more difficult than being a Karun Nair. Given the irresponsible people India has at the helm of affairs, I'm sure nobody's talking to anyone on the fringes, in any way at all. They are simply being left alone to lick the wounds of their ill-fortune.

 

[DuckMaster]

No humiliation. They have the best top three and the best bowling attack in the world - they can afford to carry a weak middle-order. As things stand, they are the favorites along with England.

However, it is true that they need to revamp the middle-order. A cricketing country with the batting pedigree of India should not carry B grade players like Rayudu, Kartik and Jadhav.

I know an expert eye like you would already have synthesised the fact that he has not been given enough consecutive chances in the ODI format, but what's your overall view of Manish Pandey? Based on what you've seen of him, if at all?

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jus the third century for Kohli in a losing cause. Plenty to ponder for India. Middle order has been a weak link for sometime as the openers and Virat had covered up for lack of it consistently, but this has come at the right time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndvWI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndvWI</a></p>— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/1056213590728937472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Tyler Durden]

Gill, Pant, Jadhav, Pandya at 4, 5, 6 & 7 will solve Indian's middle-order problems!

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Gill
Pant
Jadhav
Pandya
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Chahal

Didn't include Rahul because looks like he's keen on only opening the batting and not interested in playing in the middle order. The next better option that is available based on the recent domentic matches in Gill. It is a good idea to test him at #4 before the World cup and make him a permanent fixture if he performs well. I'm sure he wouldn't do anything worse than Rayudu. What are your thoughts? Discuss.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Your team looks attractive on paper but if we lose 3 wickets quickly we will not even reach 200. How many of these batsmen can recover from a collapse? We should hope at least one of our top 3 scores a century in every match of the World Cup.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Your team looks attractive on paper but if we lose 3 wickets quickly we will not even reach 200. How many of these batsmen can recover from a collapse? We should hope at least one of our top 3 scores a century in every match of the World Cup.

I understand. I was in an impression that Rayudu might come good, but looks like he's proving me wrong with his inconsistant performance. Manish Pandey looks like a mental midget and I have seen enough of Iyers and Rahanes and don't want to see them back in the team. What are the other options do we have?

 

[rhony]

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Gill
Pant
Jadhav
Pandya
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Chahal

Didn't include Rahul because looks like he's keen on only opening the batting and not interested in playing in the middle order. The next better option that is available based on the recent domentic matches in Gill. It is a good idea to test him at #4 before the World cup and make him a permanent fixture if he performs well. I'm sure he wouldn't do anything worse than Rayudu. What are your thoughts? Discuss.

The time to bring in a newbie is over I think. If Gill was a contender, he would have played the Eng ODIs. Also, Dhoni seems to be a certainty. I wonder if they follow the T20 model and play Rahul at 3 and Kohli at 4 to solidify that middle order.

Rohit
Dhawan
Rahul
kohli
Dhoni
Pant/Jadav
Pandya
Bhuvnesh
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Chahal