Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Indian Team Selection For World Cup 2011-Half Job Done

Indian selectors have done a reasonably good job in picking the Indian team for the Cricket World Cup 2011. Sreesanth and Rohit Sharma deserved to be in the Indian team, but the selectors and the captain must have had their reasons in omitting these two star cricketers from the World Cup squad. Though the selectors and the captain did a good job in finding a balanced team, it is still half job done.

Picking the final XI will not be easy given their star batsman Yuvraj Singh is not in the best form of his life and seems to be low on confidence as well after failing to grab a test spot. Yuvraj's Singh's form will be crucial for India's success in the World cup. What combination will the Indian team play in the World cup. Almost all of the choices stand at the same skill level except four or five core players in Sehwag, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Sachin, Zaheer Khan.  They are still required to identify the spots at which each batsmen in the Indian team will play. Who will open the innings among Sachin, Sehwag, and Gambhir. Gambhir is a good opener, but might not be effective at #3. Similarly Sachin has never been a force in the middle order what he has been as an opener in one day International. I do not think one would be inclined to see Sehwag at one down though that seems the most logical solution. Moreover these three batsmen are injured at this time and are not taking part in the current one day assignment in South Africa. There are definitely some worries for India.

Let us say Sachin and Sehwag open the innings and Gambhir bats at #3. Who will bat at #4. If it is Yuvraj at #4 then we have four out of sorts cricketers at the first four spots in the batting order. If these top guys fail to deliver it will pose a huge pressure on lower middle order. Who is likely to be i the middle order.

To begin with India should not play Gambhir in the first couple of games and should have either Suresh Raina or Virat Kohli at the #3 slot. Otherwise they might be in a situation wherein they have top three batsmen coming right into the squad after nursing injuries with the fourth player poorest form of his career. Dhoni could take on himself and bat at #3 throughout the world cup. If he clicks then India has half the job done. The rest of the batting can evolve around him. India need to find their two to three best batsmen in form and find proper batting slot for them. Otherwise it could be the matter of too many confusing and out of form choices for India and they could be feel unprepared when moment dawns on them.

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