Indian cricket team is one of the strongest teams in 2011 World Cup and the best to represent Indian team in any edition of the World Cup tournament. Additionally, the team is playing in compatible home condition and familiar home tracks. The Team India will also have an unprecedented support of the home crowd. India has an excellent chance to lift the coveted trophy for the second time with a bit of luck. I believe India should use their resources judiciously in order to make the greatest impact with the available talent.
There are three players who are used to opening the innings in the Indian team. Sachin is partnered by Sehwag and when Sachin did not play, it is Gambhir who formed the combination with Sehwag. All these three players produce their best as an opener. Whenever all of them have been member of the Indian team, Gambhir dropped to #3 slot more often. But is that the best solution for team India. Like Tendulkar, Gambhir has not proven to be as effective in the middle order as he has as an opener. Moreover if Tendulkar and Sehwag opens the innings, and Sehwag fails early in his innings, it could put a lot of pressure on both Tendulkar and Gambhir and subsequently on the middle order. A more productive option would be to open with Gambhir and Tendulkar and Sehwag saved for #3. That will also let both Tendulkar and Gambhir play their natural game and play freely. It could in other words dent the confidence of the bowler with Sehwag still in the Pavilion. The only question would if Sehwag will be successful at #3. Virat Kohli should play at #4 followed by Dhoni at #5. Yuvraj Singh should come at #6 because he has not been in the best of form and an early loss of Yuvraj Singh could also dent the confidence of the Indian team. On the contrary if Yuvraj Singh come down the order, he could still deliver the knockout punch despite being out of form. Yusuf Pathan will be an ideal #7 or Suresh Raina can also fill that spot. I would also prefer to have a Ashwin instead of Harbhajan in the XI because Harbhajan of late has not made much effect, particularly in One Day format of the game. Even a certain Ponting has mastered Harbhajan now. I do not see Harbhajan making a World of difference from what we have seen of him in the last two to three years in both formats of the game. Ashwin would be surprise package for the teams as they have never faced Ashwin before and he is handy with the bat as well. The fast bowlers should be used in shorter spells with maximum of 4 overs at one stretch. India should bat first all the time unless the conditions are adverse for batting first. They should especially bat first in the knockout stages if they win the toss. Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina or Yusuf Pathan should be used consistently as bowlers. It will be difficult to score runs faster against spinners. The spinners and part-timers will play a bigger role in this World Cup than the fast bowlers.
There are three players who are used to opening the innings in the Indian team. Sachin is partnered by Sehwag and when Sachin did not play, it is Gambhir who formed the combination with Sehwag. All these three players produce their best as an opener. Whenever all of them have been member of the Indian team, Gambhir dropped to #3 slot more often. But is that the best solution for team India. Like Tendulkar, Gambhir has not proven to be as effective in the middle order as he has as an opener. Moreover if Tendulkar and Sehwag opens the innings, and Sehwag fails early in his innings, it could put a lot of pressure on both Tendulkar and Gambhir and subsequently on the middle order. A more productive option would be to open with Gambhir and Tendulkar and Sehwag saved for #3. That will also let both Tendulkar and Gambhir play their natural game and play freely. It could in other words dent the confidence of the bowler with Sehwag still in the Pavilion. The only question would if Sehwag will be successful at #3. Virat Kohli should play at #4 followed by Dhoni at #5. Yuvraj Singh should come at #6 because he has not been in the best of form and an early loss of Yuvraj Singh could also dent the confidence of the Indian team. On the contrary if Yuvraj Singh come down the order, he could still deliver the knockout punch despite being out of form. Yusuf Pathan will be an ideal #7 or Suresh Raina can also fill that spot. I would also prefer to have a Ashwin instead of Harbhajan in the XI because Harbhajan of late has not made much effect, particularly in One Day format of the game. Even a certain Ponting has mastered Harbhajan now. I do not see Harbhajan making a World of difference from what we have seen of him in the last two to three years in both formats of the game. Ashwin would be surprise package for the teams as they have never faced Ashwin before and he is handy with the bat as well. The fast bowlers should be used in shorter spells with maximum of 4 overs at one stretch. India should bat first all the time unless the conditions are adverse for batting first. They should especially bat first in the knockout stages if they win the toss. Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina or Yusuf Pathan should be used consistently as bowlers. It will be difficult to score runs faster against spinners. The spinners and part-timers will play a bigger role in this World Cup than the fast bowlers.
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