India's Test playing XI dilemma - What should be the ideal combo for long term?

[sensible-indian-fan]

Its very clear that India has a good top 5 shaping up.

Yes, they are not perfect and have issues but they are someone who can develop.

Problem is that apart from the top 5, you are treading on dangerous territories:

Here's what our lineup looks from No 6.

Ashwin
Saha
Bowler 1
Bowler 2
Bowler 3
Bowler 4

Yes, some of the bowlers can bat but they are not reliable.

Here's how I see it:

1. If we had a WK batsman in the league of DeKock or Bairstow, then this lineup would instantly look much better. However Saha (with all due respects to him) is the kind of guy who will score those gritty 30s and 40s and maybe occasional 100.

If India are 50-4, we would be creamed 8/10. If India are 75-5, how confident would you feel about Ashwin and Saha taking us to some decent score where we can atleast make a match out of it? Its harsh to expect them to do it plus they can't do it too majority of the times.

2. The solution to this problem seems simple - we bring in a proper No 6 bat (not that hack Rohit). Say someone like Karun Nair or anyone really.

But it comes with its disadvantage - we end up with just 4 bowlers.

In India, we may manage with 4 bowlers with spinners doing the bulk of the bowling but overseas, our pacers (who are not that great anyway) will simply be bowled to the ground. By test 3 or 4, they would be rendered ineffective (just like how Bhuvi went in England).

Even in Asia, if one of the spinners has an off-day, we will struggle a lot in a 4 bowler attack.

In the past, we had Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly to roll over their arms and easily complete 10-15 solid overs per day when needed. I remember then taking some crucial wickets too at times.

Right now, none of the bats can bowl properly. Only Murali Vijay can do it somewhat and even he can't be trusted most of the times. Plus in places like Aus or SA, its just not feasible to have him bowling those 10-15 overs.

3. Another approach we can have is bring in an AR like Hardik Pandya into the side. But that poses a few more questions:

a. If he plays in Asia, will he replace a pacer? Would we be comfortable with a Shami + Pandya pace attack? If he replaces a spinner, would we be comfortable with a 3 pacer attack in Asia?

b. More importantly, will his batting hold together for all conditions? Pandya's batting is more crucial than his bowling if he plays as an AR.

Right now, he seems India's best bet for the AR slot and doesn't inspire confidence.

I believe in 5 bowlers for tougher conditions (3 pacers to attack in 1st innings and 2 spinners to attack in 2nd innings) but we do seem to be stuck in a limbo right now.

What do you think is a long term solution for this?

 

[samplepiece]

Solution 1: Blood young wicket keeper batsmen that have good batting ability like Pant
Solution 2: Find a solid opener to relieve KL Rahul and push Rahul to number 6 as a keeper batsman
Solution 3 (More hope than a solution): Unearth a genuine all-rounder.
Solution 4 (More fantasy than a solution): Clone Jacques Kallis or even Stokes.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Another problem is that Rahane's performance in Asia is woeful.

I know stat wise he is fine (averages 43 in Asia) but he simply goes missing most of the series and then makes up in one game (4th test against SA, 3rd test against NZ, one century against SL).

He is a damn good test player but his performances in Asia (where we will play 70% of our games) is hurting our stability.

 

[MMHS]

Another problem is that Rahane's performance in Asia is woeful.

I know stat wise he is fine (averages 43 in Asia) but he simply goes missing most of the series and then makes up in one game (4th test against SA, 3rd test against NZ, one century against SL).

He is a damn good test player but his performances in Asia (where we will play 70% of our games) is hurting our stability.

That's temporary - at debut, he had a FC average of 65+, probably still averages 60+. He has best part of a decade left in his prime age, he'll catch up. In fact, you can put other way, something I mentioned in Azhar-Pujara thread - Pujara is a bigger problem on tours.

For the combination, I don't think there is much problem. At home, IND can easily play 5 bowlers with Ash, Saha (or a new WK), Jad & then 3 specialist bowlers. In Away tours, no point playing Jad - that goes to a batting all-rounder (mainly batsman, can bowl 20 overs/Test), one spinner & 3 pacers.

If you ask me - there are only 2 areas of concern & 1 area good to have -

1. A genuine leggi has to be found. Yadav or any new guy has to be groomed, regardless of his batting. Mishra is not bad, but can't lead an attack as prime spinner

2. Saha is not a bad WK & he scores valuable runs as well - but he is 30+ and needs to be phased out as early as possible. Not sure how good WK Kishan is, but a new face in a year or two is must

3. A minor area, but this IND side has 10 right handers - if Jad misses out away from home, it's 11 - need a bit diversity. Had UV been 10 years younger, I would have said, the perfect match - an attacking lefti at 6, who can bowl 25 overs. Ash, a Leggi + 2 pacers at home. Ash/Leggi + 3 pacers away.

Finding a UV clone might solve most of the problems.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

That's temporary - at debut, he had a FC average of 65+, probably still averages 60+. He has best part of a decade left in his prime age, he'll catch up. In fact, you can put other way, something I mentioned in Azhar-Pujara thread - Pujara is a bigger problem on tours.

For the combination, I don't think there is much problem. At home, IND can easily play 5 bowlers with Ash, Saha (or a new WK), Jad & then 3 specialist bowlers. In Away tours, no point playing Jad - that goes to a batting all-rounder (mainly batsman, can bowl 20 overs/Test), one spinner & 3 pacers.

If you ask me - there are only 2 areas of concern & 1 area good to have -

1. A genuine leggi has to be found. Yadav or any new guy has to be groomed, regardless of his batting. Mishra is not bad, but can't lead an attack as prime spinner

2. Saha is not a bad WK & he scores valuable runs as well - but he is 30+ and needs to be phased out as early as possible. Not sure how good WK Kishan is, but a new face in a year or two is must

3. A minor area, but this IND side has 10 right handers - if Jad misses out away from home, it's 11 - need a bit diversity. Had UV been 10 years younger, I would have said, the perfect match - an attacking lefti at 6, who can bowl 25 overs. Ash, a Leggi + 2 pacers at home. Ash/Leggi + 3 pacers away.

Finding a UV clone might solve most of the problems.

Yuvraj Singh in tests?

Really?

 

[MMHS]

Yuvraj Singh in tests?

Really?

Not him, he is almost 40 now, his clone can help

UV is really unlucky to be playing in wrong era; otherwise his stats are much better & he can do a devastating job from 6 with players like Ashwin holding end. His bowling was under rated - make him play more than half of his career on wickets where Ash-Jad partying; you can have a player at 6 with 40+/70+ batting stats & 2.5 wickets/Test at 35-38 average.

Besides, putting Rahne at 1st slip; UV is a much better 2nd slip option than anyone IND had tried in last few years. A perfect no. 6 for team like India, lefti as well.

 

[LastManstanding]

Not him, he is almost 40 now, his clone can help��

UV is really unlucky to be playing in wrong era; otherwise his stats are much better & he can do a devastating job from 6 with players like Ashwin holding end. His bowling was under rated - make him play more than half of his career on wickets where Ash-Jad partying; you can have a player at 6 with 40+/70+ batting stats & 2.5 wickets/Test at 35-38 average.

Besides, putting Rahne at 1st slip; UV is a much better 2nd slip option than anyone IND had tried in last few years. A perfect no. 6 for team like India, lefti as well.

Yuvi didnt have the temperament for test cricket. Besides he wont average 40 with bat on such pitches.

 

[RamLakhan]

Solution 1: Blood young wicket keeper batsmen that have good batting ability like Pant
Solution 2: Find a solid opener to relieve KL Rahul and push Rahul to number 6 as a keeper batsman
Solution 3 (More hope than a solution): Unearth a genuine all-rounder.
Solution 4 (More fantasy than a solution): Clone Jacques Kallis or even Stokes.

This point is totally out of sorts! If you are looking at solid opener then there is no better option in the country apart from him (even though he has not yet proven big, but he is showing promise! someone to be persisted! Don't count him out based on one innings coming back after injury and a Ranji match). Yes he is also affected by T20 cricket (If there is one player/example of someone whose style of batting is amputated due to too much T20, then it is him!) but still it is the most commercial format of cricket and he has all rights to adapt to that style of batting and also overall it is beneficiary to spectators/cricket-fans as well. I am sure without IPL he would be a mainstay opener in Test Cricket by now surpassing Sehwag (in terms of reliability and overall impact) and marching towards Gavaskar. But with all these distractions it is test of his character to perform in test cricket (even Kohli is facing the same problem otherwise he would have had 50+ average by now comfortably in Test matches! He is absolutely in the ranks of Sachin, Dravid in tests) Even Sehwag couldn't meet the demands of T20 (I agree he was already past his prime by then) whereas he was a monster in Tests & decent in ODIs!

Hence if you are looking at some reliable opener among the available options then it has to be comfortably Rahul. Please don't change that for some time at least (when people like Rohit/Dhawan are given a long run). And no way he can be asked to keep wickets in Test matches. Dravid kept wickets in ODIs only to actually retain his place in the team more than bringing balance to the team. Rahul is not in that desperate position. He finds place as Test Opener based on merit and in ODIs also again if not opener at least in the middle-order (and thank God Dhoni is not retiring yet and shielding him from wearing wicket-keeper gloves! Hopefully we will find another Dhoni soon!)

 

[troodon]

Saha is not a long term keeper. He can score some useful runs in India. But against good bowling attacks in away tours, he will struggle to score.

To me, there are only 2 solutions.
1) Bring in Pant and give him the license to play his natural game. Persist with him. He is a game changer type of batsman. His keeping will imrove with experience
2) Make Rahul Keep and select Karun Nair as opener. This way, we can go with 6 batsman and 5 bowlers strategy without weakening our batting.

A big NO to Pandya. He is a total hack with both bat and ball. A nothing bowler who depends on luck to get wickets. His batting is horrible against quick bowlers. I would rate Jaddu the batsman over Hardik.

We do not have any upcoming all rounders unfortunately. So having a Stokes kind of all rounder is just a pipe dream.

 

[samplepiece]

This point is totally out of sorts! If you are looking at solid opener then there is no better option in the country apart from him (even though he has not yet proven big, but he is showing promise! someone to be persisted! Don't count him out based on one innings coming back after injury and a Ranji match). Yes he is also affected by T20 cricket (If there is one player/example of someone whose style of batting is amputated due to too much T20, then it is him!) but still it is the most commercial format of cricket and he has all rights to adapt to that style of batting and also overall it is beneficiary to spectators/cricket-fans as well. I am sure without IPL he would be a mainstay opener in Test Cricket by now surpassing Sehwag (in terms of reliability and overall impact) and marching towards Gavaskar. But with all these distractions it is test of his character to perform in test cricket (even Kohli is facing the same problem otherwise he would have had 50+ average by now comfortably in Test matches! He is absolutely in the ranks of Sachin, Dravid in tests) Even Sehwag couldn't meet the demands of T20 (I agree he was already past his prime by then) whereas he was a monster in Tests & decent in ODIs!

Hence if you are looking at some reliable opener among the available options then it has to be comfortably Rahul. Please don't change that for some time at least (when people like Rohit/Dhawan are given a long run). And no way he can be asked to keep wickets in Test matches. Dravid kept wickets in ODIs only to actually retain his place in the team more than bringing balance to the team. Rahul is not in that desperate position. He finds place as Test Opener based on merit and in ODIs also again if not opener at least in the middle-order (and thank God Dhoni is not retiring yet and shielding him from wearing wicket-keeper gloves! Hopefully we will find another Dhoni soon!)

Count out? I rate Rahul very highly. But since our team has a few gaps in the lower order, we could try Rahul as a keeper batsman IF we find another solid opener or IF we fail to find a good wicketkeeper batsman. I was just thinking of the possibilities as far as Rahul's role in the team is concerned. His place is secure for the time being.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Problem persists.

No solution at sight.

 

[Sidilicious]

Other than Pant, are there any other promising keeper bats in India?

Samson has seemed out of sorts.
Ojha is on the older side. So are Karthik and Parthiv Patel.

 

[RamLakhan]

Count out? I rate Rahul very highly. But since our team has a few gaps in the lower order, we could try Rahul as a keeper batsman IF we find another solid opener or IF we fail to find a good wicketkeeper batsman. I was just thinking of the possibilities as far as Rahul's role in the team is concerned. His place is secure for the time being.

In ODIs & T20s it is possible (but Dhoni is still around, so that's ruled out). It will be absolutely atrocious to ask that in Test Matches (you may kill the batsman especially the opener in him which is more important than anything else! Indian Test team and even LOI team is struggling with reliable openers for some time now after Sehwag and Gambhir) I am sure Saha is just being persisted for now, and we will soon find replacement in near future.

The problem is not actually with the balance, it is the available players themselves (Rohit Sharma is our 6th Batsman in case we play 6 batsmen says the story) Also Mishra is not good enough as 5th bowler at home and Jadeja is not good enough 5th bowler abroad. And we don't have settled seamers either!

 

[RamLakhan]

Other than Pant, are there any other promising keeper bats in India?

Samson has seemed out of sorts.
Ojha is on the older side. So are Karthik and Parthiv Patel.

Even if Rahul is requested to keep wickets in Test matches (which even Dravid didn't do) to bring in the balance (at the most a Rohit kind of 6th batsman or Mishra kind of 5th bowler) what's the guarantee of changing anything? Rahul's catching is already suspect in other fielding positions and keeping for long hours as WK is going to test him like anything and what if it affects his batting also?

So Indian test team is going to struggle for some years unless they find those key players (WK who can bat & keep well, settled openers, good 3 seamers for overseas, Ashwin's improvement overseas, Pujara overseas, Rahane against spinners, Kohli's improved consistency in Tests compared to LOIs, etc. etc.)

 

[RamLakhan]

At the moment Indian team is doing well at least at home because of Kohli's brilliant captaincy and Ashwin's punching above limits abilities. Also is doing reasonably well abroad because of some smartness in resource management

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

This is the problem with our lineup.

When Ash fails, our lower order looks way too vulnerable.

Plus he himself is not a number 6. Careless and infuriating batting.

Could do so much better with a better approach.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Jayant has given a boost to our batting with his assured approach.

Saha won't last for long with his shaky batting. Its NOT his dismissals that matter but the way he bats is so unconvincing. But he has played crucial knocks for us recently so deserves a bit more chances but don't see him lasting long.

Jaddu is just a tukka bat these days.

 

[Justcrazy]

Ashwin is good at number 6.

In India , they can easily go with 5 bowlers.

When they play outside , they should play 4 bowlers and six batsman .

 

[leg-side-flick]

Jayant has given a boost to our batting with his assured approach.

Saha won't last for long with his shaky batting. Its NOT his dismissals that matter but the way he bats is so unconvincing. But he has played crucial knocks for us recently so deserves a bit more chances but don't see him lasting long.

Jaddu is just a tukka bat these days.

Saha n Jaddu are batting poorly
Saha's keeping is also not great
Rahane was also poor

Even if India wins tom, This series is going to be tight, I think england might win the third test...

 

[Sin Nombre]

Explain to me why Umesh gets picked every match.

He puts no premium on his wicket while batting and his bowing has a lot of loose 4 balls and only picks the odd wicket. Decent fielder for a fast bowler but that surely is not enough.

This is the lineup I would go with in Mohali

Rahul
Vijay
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Ashwin
Pant
Yadav
Bhuvi
Jadeja
Shami

 

[leg-side-flick]

Explain to me why Umesh gets picked every match.

He puts no premium on his wicket while batting and his bowing has a lot of loose 4 balls and only picks the odd wicket. Decent fielder for a fast bowler but that surely is not enough.

This is the lineup I would go with in Mohali

Rahul
Vijay
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Ashwin
Pant
Yadav
Bhuvi
Jadeja
Shami

Saha probably deserves one more chance but agree on Yadav....

Ishant or BK should replace him

 

[soso_killer]

Apart from Rahane, India don't have the personnel to compete outside Asia.
The bowling attack is virtually non existent.

 

[Bilal7]

Apart from Rahane, India don't have the personnel to compete outside Asia.
The bowling attack is virtually non existent.

Mohammad Shami is a good bowler and will be quality everywhere. The rest, not so much. The batting is good enough to compete for sure, but Ashwin cannot be a reliable #6 batsman outside Asia and Saha needs replacing too.

There is a reason they lost badly in all four of the top non-Asian test playing nations on their last visits there.

 

[Bilal7]

They don't need to worry about overseas for now. In India, the lineup they are playing in this match is the best one they can play, if the rank-turners don't make a comeback.

 

[Indiafan]

Apart from Rahane, India don't have the personnel to compete outside Asia.
The bowling attack is virtually non existent.

Are you serious? Both Shami and Bhuvi have been world class lately

 

[Bilal7]

Are you serious? Both Shami and Bhuvi have been world class lately

World class? I'm not sure if he's injured or what but a player who can't make his own team is never world class.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

We have a good keeper (Saha) who is inconsistent with the bat.

We have a good batsman (Parthiv) who is rubbish in keeping. [MENTION=141520]troodon[/MENTION] - bro, this guy is a GHANTA keeper. His drop cum missed stumping chance when Bairstow (off Ashwin's bowling) was on 50 odd and England was on 160 odd was a GAME CHANGER. Again dropped Bairstow on 89 off Jayant but he took his wicket the next ball.

We have a gun outside Asia bat (Rahane) who seems like he needs to be dropped on Asian pitches (for the time being). Funnily, he never scores soft runs outside Asia but almost always ONLY scores soft runs in Asia (or makes use of easier conditions - even that he didn't do in this series).

Vijay is an all conditions opener but SIMPLY not consistent.

Rahul is a huge talent but is made up of glass and is either a boom or bust player as of now.

Bowling attack is good and I am happy with that.

Batting needs to pick up. I hope we draft in another middle order batsman to play in Rahane's place. I like him but man....he almost screwed us big time today.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

If Jadeja got his act together with the bat things would be much more simpler. Then you could have an XI of:

Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Ashwin
Saha
Jadeja
Jayant (assuming he cements his place in the side)
Shami
Umesh/Bhuvi/Ishant

And replace Jayant with a seamer outside of Asia.

But if Jadeja carries on like he has in his first 20+ tests then having Ashwin and Saha at 6 and 7 is a massive risk.

 

[street cricketer]

India's pool of current test cricketers and prospects:

Openers:
Murali Vijay
KL Rahul
Shikhar Dhawan
Abhinav Mukund
Akhil Herwadkar

Middle order batsmen:
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane
Rohit Sharma
Karun Nair
Mainsh Pandey

Wicket keepers:
Wriddhaman Saha
Parthiv Patel
Naman Ojha
Rishabh Pant

Spinners/Spin all rounders:
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravindra Jadeja
Jayant Yadav
Amit Mishra
Kuldeep Yadav

Pace bowling all rounders:
Hardik Pandya
Stuart Binny

Pacers:
Mohammed Shami
Umesh Yadav
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Ishant Sharma
Shardul Thakur
Varun Aaron

We will most probably win the remaining series in the home season as well but our biggest test will come next year when we tour overseas.

We have very good bench strength in almost all categories, but the only thing remaining to complete the jigsaw will be pacers who can pick up 20 wickets in overseas conditions. 3-4 pacers who can pick up 20 wickets consistently in overseas conditions will make us a complete team.

Which team do you think will give us our best chance of winning a series when we tour South Africa next year?

 

[Swanny]

Drop Dhawan & Rohit. Have replacements for Pujara i.e. always have 3 openers in squad.

Ishant & Yadav both have bowling avg of 36+. Not good enough.

Ashwin, Jayant & Kuldeep are your spinners.

Rest are fine.

 

[street cricketer]

Drop Dhawan & Rohit. Have replacements for Pujara i.e. always have 3 openers in squad.

Ishant & Yadav both have bowling avg of 36+. Not good enough.

Ashwin, Jayant & Kuldeep are your spinners.

Rest are fine.

Jadeja?

 

[Sin Nombre]

Do we think Bhuvi will be effective in SA?

If so, xi would be

Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Parthiv*, Ashwin, Jadeja, Bhuvi, Shami, Ishant

* WK is a tricky one. Parthiv stood up well to the Aussies back in the day as a batsman and would allow us to play an extra bowler; and his keeping deficiencies might not show up away in SA


If not, we really need to start blooding in Shardul and Hardik in the test arena.

Bowling is a major concern with only Shami and Jadeja certainties in my mind.

 

[street cricketer]

I think the following team gives us the best chance of winning a series overseas.

Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli (c)
Rahane
Nair/Pandya
Parthiv (wk)
Ashwin
Bhuvi
Shami
Yadav/Ishant

Still can't decide whether to go with 6 batsmen (including the wicket keeper) and 5 bowlers or 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers. Seeing that most teams nowadays struggle with the 4 bowler strategy and looking at the problems that we have had historically overseas, I suspect the 6+5 combination is the way forward. Nair unfortunately has to miss out.

 

[Swanny]

Jadeja?

Jadeja is crap outside asia.

 

[Swanny]

Our batting is ok . We have two fast bowlers who avg 36+ overall. Neither can they bat. How are people okay with this ? We need to try out as many fast bowlers we can. asap

 

[Indiafan]

Our batting is ok . We have two fast bowlers who avg 36+ overall. Neither can they bat. How are people okay with this ? We need to try out as many fast bowlers we can. asap

Bhuvi averages 28 and averages 15 this year. Yet doesn't get games over Umesh who averages 50 this year

 

[Sin Nombre]

Bhuvi averages 28 and averages 15 this year. Yet doesn't get games over Umesh who averages 50 this year

I would like Bhuvi to be played more as well so why do you think that is? Happened under both Dhoni and Kohli.

Is the thinking that he is too slow to be effective on unhelpful subcontinental pitches?

 

[Justcrazy]

India have the potential to go with 5 bowlers irrespective of conditions.

 

[Swanny]

Bhuvi averages 28 and averages 15 this year. Yet doesn't get games over Umesh who averages 50 this year

Specialist feilder Umesh & specialist coat hanger Ishant should be kicked out from the squad asap.

 

[Vivek_86]

I am irritated at seeing Saha in the lineup. It is a myth that he is the best keeper. And less said about the batting ,the better. Not every talentless player is a fighter.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Saha is frustrating but option do we have for now?

Pappu ji is a decent keeper when he is at his ABSOLUTE BEST.

On a normal day or a bad day, no low is too low for him.

 

[transitional]

Keep it simple.
Play 5-1-5 in subcontinent, where it can be difficult to take wickets
Play 6-1-4 in overseas, where you have more help for bowlers, and need more protection in batting against a collapse.

Subcontinent XI

Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Nair
Ashwin
Saha/Patel
Jadeja
Yadav
Ishant/Umesh/Bhuvi
Shami

Overseas XI

Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Nair
Saha/Patel
Ashwin
Bhuvi
Ishant/Umesh
Shami

 

[rollingstoned]

Saha is frustrating but option do we have for now?

Pappu ji is a decent keeper when he is at his ABSOLUTE BEST.

On a normal day or a bad day, no low is too low for him.

What's macha Dinesh Karthik been upto? He's the middle ground between Pappu and Saha as far as keeping and batting are concerned being neither as good a keeper as Saha currently nor as good a batsman as PP.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

What's macha Dinesh Karthik been upto? He's the middle ground between Pappu and Saha as far as keeping and batting are concerned being neither as good a keeper as Saha currently nor as good a batsman as PP.

Dinesh Karthik is even worse bro.

I would have Pappu over him.

Useless bat (all talent and no show) and a serial dropper.

 

[The_Odd_One]

India has to find a way to play Rohit Sharma in the middle order. He is just too good a batsman to not succeed in tests. He has been inconsistent in tests but he came good in the other 2 formats once he was given a consistent run. He will eventually start performing in tests too.

He is easily the most talented and beautiful to watch batsmen in the Indian team.

 

[Sin Nombre]

India have the potential to go with 5 bowlers irrespective of conditions.

Really need Ashwin to become an ATG spinner in all conditions for that to happen. If he can keep his SR at 60 or under in SA/Aus/Eng/NZ, that means they can do with an additional bowler.


Rohit Sharma needs to focus and become an ATG in LOI format which he is capable of. We are in an era of specialized teams for the 2 formats.

 

[transitional]

Sorry, just NO. Rohit Sharma is not a test class material. He had plenty of chances to show his mattle in crucial situations: A couple of example are the tests in Adelaide and Auckland, which India lost by 48 and 40 runs respectively. Rohit choked and failed tamely both times, and India squandered from positions of 220 odd for 2, to lose by small margins. Guess what, poor Ajinkya Rahane got rough decisions in BOTH chases. I still blame Dhoni and Tendulkar's legacy of not adopting DRS during those times. But I digress.

Those two chases are not all encomassing summary of Rohit's career, but they do set vivid example of separating men from boys in this Indian batting lineup. Dhawan, Vijay, Kohli, Pujara to some extent - all scored gritty runs in those tough chases. Rohit never looked like he will make any impact. You never forget narrow losses like that. I would rather bet on someone like Rahul or Nair or some newcomer with good pedigree rather than Rohit Sharma. India already wasted almost 50+ tests giving chances to Raina and Yuvraj, and I dont want them to waste any morw time on Rohit Sharma.

 

[Swanny]

Ha ha people still hope Umesh & Ishant will do fine overseas even after failing countless times. No matter how many great batsmen you play you need to actually pick 20 wkts to win.

 

[HateKiller]

No matter how many great batsmen you play you need to actually pick 20 wkts to win.

Not really. Pakistan picked only 15 and were very close to win.

 

[street cricketer]

Ha ha people still hope Umesh & Ishant will do fine overseas even after failing countless times. No matter how many great batsmen you play you need to actually pick 20 wkts to win.

What are the other options though?

 

[Bilal7]

It's pretty simple:

1) Vijay
2) Rahul
3) Pujara
4) Kohli (c)
5) Rahane
6) Ashwin (vc)
7) Jadeja
8) Saha (wk)
9) Jayant/Bhuveshnar (depending on location)
10) Shami
11) Ishant

 

[Bilal7]

India has to find a way to play Rohit Sharma in the middle order. He is just too good a batsman to not succeed in tests. He has been inconsistent in tests but he came good in the other 2 formats once he was given a consistent run. He will eventually start performing in tests too.

He is easily the most talented and beautiful to watch batsmen in the Indian team.

Not really. He's a borderline hack against the moving ball and even in LOIs, he's only done well on flat roads. Has failed every single time he's been faced with the moving ball.

 

[Sadevdesai]

Better to have more than 11 talented players than not enough. Having said that, it is easy to rotate players, they just did that by letting Yadav sit even though he scored a century in the last Test Match !!! I am sure the players know this. So no one really gets offended. I am sure that for every one player playing the Test Match, there are at least 2 other players thinking.... they should be playing !!! Such is the nature of Cricket now ... overflow of talented players.

 

[Swanny]

What are the other options though?

How will you know without giving chances to youngsters. Not like Ishant or Umesh are world class.

 

[Masquerade]

Nothing wrong with picking Parthiv for overseas tests I don't think. He's not the greatest keeper to the spinners but that won't matter as much when we're playing in South Africa or Australia. He offers more versatility than Saha as well as he can open, bat at 6 and is more flamboyant if we ever need to accelerate. His keeping also got a lot better as the series progressed.

If they keep Saha then the only other option is picking Pandya, who is going to need a lot of grooming. He might make it but there's really no guarantee.

Probably, we'll line up something like this :

Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Patel
Ashwin
Jayant
Umesh
Shami
Ishant

Obviously guys like Karun Nair, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvi, Jadeja and maybe even Mishra might come in as needed. I like it because it gives us a lot of solidity with the bat. Jadeja is an option instead of Jayant since he's a left-armer but his batting is hit and miss. On seaming decks we might even pick Pandya instead of either of them.

 

[Vivek_86]

Saha is frustrating but option do we have for now?

Pappu ji is a decent keeper when he is at his ABSOLUTE BEST.

On a normal day or a bad day, no low is too low for him.

Saha has been disastrous keeping wise lately. So if nobody is competent then why not pick the best batsman among them? And that definitely not Saha

 

[Masquerade]

Saha has been disastrous keeping wise lately. So if nobody is competent then why not pick the best batsman among them? And that definitely not Saha

I think Parthiv must have kicked his dog or scratched his car. He absolutely hates him so there's no point arguing. The guy thinks he's always correct anyway.

 

[Sin Nombre]

I think Parthiv must have kicked his dog or scratched his car. He absolutely hates him so there's no point arguing. The guy thinks he's always correct anyway.

Parthiv is a very poor keeper.

Dropped Cook again and there goes our chances of winning this test.

 

[street cricketer]

Honestly I would love to have Parthiv Patel in the team if only he didn't take 1 and drop 3 catches behind the stumps.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Saha has been disastrous keeping wise lately. So if nobody is competent then why not pick the best batsman among them? And that definitely not Saha

Cook dropped off Ash just now.

Guess who?

 

[Masquerade]

I think Parthiv must have kicked his dog or scratched his car. He absolutely hates him so there's no point arguing. The guy thinks he's always correct anyway.

Nvm, Im wrong.

Tried standing up for the little man and he's let me down

 

[Metron]

Nvm, Im wrong.

Tried standing up for the little man and he's let me down

He keeps proving why we never missed him !

 

[Metron]

My XI would be:

KL Rahul
Vijay
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane/Nair/Rohit
Rishabh Pant(wc)
Ashwin
Jadeja/Jayant Yadav
Bhuvi/
Shami
Ishant/Umesh/Bumrah...

Can always toss between 3 or 2 seamers depending upon conditions!!

 

[JaDed]

Parthiv will fold in pitches doing anything,Saha will atleast grind it out,with Karun coming up and Rahul being fit I think we should stick with Saha.

 

[Ab Fan]

Parthiv might struggle both as batsmen and keeper outside Asia.

India have to stick with Saha only who himself is mediocre but the best option available.

The question would be to go with 5 batsmen+1 keeper or 6 batsmen +4 bowler strategy as both the options aren't worth satisfying.

 

[Sin Nombre]

What we need is to start blooding Rishabh Pant and see whether his keeping is up to par. Both Saha and Parthiv are poor options in reality.

If you scored both keeping and batting off 50 each, Parthiv is a 10 on keeping and 30 on batting so 40 total. Saha is a 30 on keeping and 20 on batting so 50 total. Neither is good but Saha is the better option.

 

[Justcrazy]

Really need Ashwin to become an ATG spinner in all conditions for that to happen. If he can keep his SR at 60 or under in SA/Aus/Eng/NZ, that means they can do with an additional bowler.


Rohit Sharma needs to focus and become an ATG in LOI format which he is capable of. We are in an era of specialized teams for the 2 formats.

Its not AShwin only , the other bowlers are all contributing . Even if Ashwin fails sometimes , others can compensate.