One of Shikhar Dhawan or Lokesh Rahul should play in ODIs

[Mariner1981]

Hi guys this my first post so pardon my English. So what’s your opinion about both Dhawan and Rahul playing in odi’s together. Both of them killed the momentum after 15 overs by being over defensive.
Today after getting set they never really picked up the run rate. Rahul who is so fluent in t20 looks a pale shadow of himself undecided whether to attack or accumulate.
Dhawan now days take a lot of time to get set, so basically he has to make a 100 to cover up his run rate.
Also as the commentators were discussing becoz of this Kohli plays at no.4 ( mind you it’s his own decision but I think not the right one).
Kohli’s best position is no.3. Waiting for ur comments.

 

[jnaveen1980]

KL Rahul can play as a keeper and a late order basher.

 

[Ab Fan]

Welcome Mariner!

On merit, Rahul hasn't done enough to replace Dhawan from ODI cricket. Rahul has no doubt fared better as opener than a no.4 but clearly it's not enough to displace a top opening ODI batsmen.

I am fine with Rohit and Dhawan as ODI opening pair. Keep Rahul as backup opener.

However, in T20s, I think Rahul has done more than enough to replace Dhawan and should open alongside Rohit.

 

[Titan24]

Welcome to PP.

Playing Rahul at no 3 over Kohli was surely an unjustifiable move considering Kohli is the best batsman of the team and you dont change position of someone like that. Also it wasnt like Rahul would have been given a permanent position at no 3 irrespective of whatever he would have scored so it didnt make much sense.

Even if management thinks Rahul should play than he will have play at no 4 or so where he has showed number of times he isnt comfortable.

So I agree only one of Rahul or Dhawan can play and considering the stature of Dhawan in comparison its a no brainier that he should be the one playing.

 

[The Viper]

Rahul is an opener- not a three.

There is no logic in moving down the best player- Kohli should always bat at three.

Rahul is not good enough to justify moving Kohli down.

 

[Mariner1981]

Also I cannot understand the difference in batting style, when Rahul plays odi’s and t20’s.
In odi’s he looks timid and unsure. I have not seen him strike at more 100 sr. Even if he hits a boundary he goes into his shell after that. Yesterday initially his sr was good, but kept on dropping as the innings progressed. Is it management’s instruction to play as a accumulator or he is playing for his place I don’t know? Problem is both he and Dhawan are playing as accumulators.

 

[jagatk]

Neither should be in the team, dhawan is getting old and has been figured out and can be kept in check. Rahul for some weird reason can't replicate the attacking game he plays in t20's.

Kohli at no 4 isn't a bad idea in long term if likes of gill and shaw/agarwal come in as opener and no 3. But sadly kaptaan much like the guy before him believes in favoritism far more than he does in talent.

 

[Hasan123]

KL Rahul should be selected. He is in good form and is the younger player. Dhwaan has had a good career but he is 34. I would not expect him to be at his best for the 2023 WC. Don't understand why India can't move on from senior players that aren't good enough these days.

 

[tyron_woodley]

KL Rahul can play as a keeper and a late order basher.

kl Rahul can play gully cricket.

dhawan or rohit
gill
kohli
pandey
pant
parag
dubey
pandya
chahal or kuldeep
saini
bumrah

modern cricket needs these bit part players because they can bat/slog and also bowl a few overs. You only need one spinner.

 

[tyron_woodley]

KL Rahul should be selected. He is in good form and is the younger player. Dhwaan has had a good career but he is 34. I would not expect him to be at his best for the 2023 WC. Don't understand why India can't move on from senior players that aren't good enough these days.

that's the problem. Once You have established yourself with a world title and a solid average, india won't drop their big names. India have the nepotist mentality. They give extended lifelines to great/good players as they like to make them feel like they are part of a family. This mentality needs to stop at the elite level.

That's the difference between india/pakistam and australia.

australia are ruthless, they would drop smith in a heartbeat if he fails in one big series.
Can you imagine india dropping kohli or rohit or dhawan? no. They will continue to give them plenty of chances like they did in 2011-2012 test season. Post world cup india had too many old horses. Since those guys were established big names, they gave them 15 freaking games to play before those players retired. Apparently it was part of a send off canpaign rofl. Joke of a management.

india lost like 10 matches out of 13 or 14 games in that horrible period?

I am hoping this won't happen under kohli

 

[Ab Fan]

that's the problem. Once You have established yourself with a world title and a solid average, india won't drop their big names. India have the nepotist mentality. They give extended lifelines to great/good players as they like to make them feel like they are part of a family. This mentality needs to stop at the elite level.

That's the difference between india/pakistam and australia.

australia are ruthless, they would drop smith in a heartbeat if he fails in one big series.
Can you imagine india dropping kohli or rohit or dhawan? no. They will continue to give them plenty of chances like they did in 2011-2012 test season. Post world cup india had too many old horses. Since those guys were established big names, they gave them 15 freaking games to play before those players retired. Apparently it was part of a send off canpaign rofl. Joke of a management.

india lost like 10 matches out of 13 or 14 games in that horrible period?

I am hoping this won't happen under kohli

Australia didn't dropped Ponting who was well past after 2007 and carried till 2012. They won't drop Smith either. But Australians generally retire when they feel it's time to call off.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Rohit-Dhawan-Kohli is the best top 3 ever in ODIs. There is no need to change this combination when it has worked so well for India.

 

[Hasan123]

that's the problem. Once You have established yourself with a world title and a solid average, india won't drop their big names. India have the nepotist mentality. They give extended lifelines to great/good players as they like to make them feel like they are part of a family. This mentality needs to stop at the elite level.

That's the difference between india/pakistam and australia.

australia are ruthless, they would drop smith in a heartbeat if he fails in one big series.
Can you imagine india dropping kohli or rohit or dhawan? no. They will continue to give them plenty of chances like they did in 2011-2012 test season. Post world cup india had too many old horses. Since those guys were established big names, they gave them 15 freaking games to play before those players retired. Apparently it was part of a send off canpaign rofl. Joke of a management.

india lost like 10 matches out of 13 or 14 games in that horrible period?

I am hoping this won't happen under kohli

India have some senior players who will be close to the end at the WC. They need to make some hard decisions by dropping the ones who won't be good enough. And sticking with the right younger players.

Dhwaan wont be at his best at 2023 WC. KL is finding his feet now. Would be a good move to back KL in ODIs and move Dhwaan on now.

 

[Diffusion]

Rohit-Dhawan-Kohli is the best top 3 ever in ODIs. There is no need to change this combination when it has worked so well for India.

Gilchrist, Hayden & Ponting.