2nd April, 2011. Enthralled with emotions & overwhelmed with jitters. One might have skipped a heart beat or two. Can any patriotic Indian forget this night? Those who've witnessed the cricket match between India & Sri Lanka held at Wankhede stadium(Mumbai), would long cherish the memories forever. But time moves on. Now here we are,after four years,on the brink of another world cup to begin.
A month is left for one of the great tournaments in cricketing game to begin. Indian team is busy playing Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy with 2-0 down & a new skipper in records. Hats off to the great MSD for his contributions to the Indian Test Cricket Team apart from the dismal performance in the overseas. The statistics explicitly suggests his average took a plunge in recent years. Despite this he will be hailed as a hero for for taking the team to great heights, rank one in test rankings. The BCCI selectors have had a herculean task to select 15 players out of 30 probables for the upcoming tri-series & the world cup. I'm going to discuss the line-up for the WC squad in brief about those had a deserving chance to make the cut but couldn't & those despite repeated failures were lucky to reserve a berth in the squad.
Below are the names chosen by the selectors with pros & cons in chronological order of their batting line-up:
1)Shikhar Dhawan: 49 Runs: 2046 Avg: 45.46.
The southpaw looks formidable in the opening slot. Smashed centuries in England in the Champions Trophy. Has a good batting average in India. But he has been a serious concern in the longer format in the on-going series. The last ODI series he played was in India against the West Indies. Three consecutive half centuries. Can he deliver the same on the bouncy tracks in Austraila?
Rating: 3/5.
2)Rohit Sharma- Matches: 126. Runs:3752 Avg:37.89
The most laudable batsman in recent times due to his two double centuries despite being his thoroughly inconsistent performances. Both came in Indian conditions. Will he be able to show the same sparkle at the MCG or the SCG? His inconsistency is much talked of. Still he makes the cut in the squad. Let's see what difference does he make in the WC.
Rating: 2/5.
3)Virat Kohli- Matches: 146 Runs: 6208 Avg: 52.61
The strong middle order batsman on which India banks upon. The prolific run scorer in all formats of the game. He has the experience of WC with the greats in 2011. You want him to chase any target, its done. Performed consistently in every conditions apart from a small series fiasco in England. Is he the guy who can carry India through again? Indian fans would look out on him. Can he deliver the expectations with the huge amount of pressure on him?
Rating: 4.5/5.
4)Ajinkya Rahane- Matches: 42 Runs: 1230 Avg: 29.28
Do not ponder over his stats. He is an emerging cricketer. Successful in Test formats. He is busy establishing himself as new young gun. Can he bat at No.4 or open the innings. He is flash on the field & throws to the stumps. Builds his innings slowly but to a huge one. He is surely a batsmam in the middle order who can handle situations in adverse conditions.
Rating: 3.5/5.
5)Ambati Rayudu- Matches: 24 Runs: 685 Avg:45.66
He is one of the IPL stars that shone brightly. Has been comprehensive in the middle order of Indian Cricket Team. Its just been a mere 24 matches. We cannot fully assess on his records. Can be use as a secondary wicket-keeper. Is he a likelihood for crunch games or he will succumb to pressure? He has been never tested before in such pressure-friendly circumstances. We hope the best out of him.
Rating: 2/5.
6)Suresh Raina- Matches: 203 Runs: 5051 Avg: 35.82
Remember the quarter-final against the invincibles OZs? We expect the same thing Raina at the middle-lower order. He is a flamboyant smasher of the ball. Last tour he smashed a quick 100 against the English players. You can count on him in delivering runs. After MS he has played the most no of matches in this squad. Quite a lot experience. You cannot question his agility on field. He is a treat to watch.
Rating: 4/5.
7)MS Dhoni- Matches: 250 Runs: 8192 Avg: 52.85
He is possibly one of the great finishers in the world. The above line you read is subtly incorrect. He is "the great finisher". You can always depend on MS under any high pressure situations. The Captain his dominant in ODIs. Fans would like him to retain the Cup. Prudent tactician & decisive leader on the field. Behind the stumps he is lightning speed & simply would raise his hands vertical to the leg umpire. Can he guide the men in blue through all the hurdles? Can he defy all odds of retaining another WC? Wait for your answers till the WC is over.
Rating: 4/5.
8)Stuart Binny- Matches:6 Runs: 40 Wickets: 9 Avg: 13.33
The son of former WC hero Roger binny, Indian Cricket Association selector, is a mere kid in the new block. His selection has raised doubts on the selectors. A seam bowler whose speed is modest with a test match saving 78. There were other players who could've made it to the squad. Why choose Binny Jr? He will be a look out for New Zealand pitches.Let's see if he can surprise us in the world cup.
Rating-1.5/5.
9) Ravindra Jadeja- Matches: 109 Runs: 1691 Avg: 34.51 Wickets: 134.
Since 2011, the highest wicket taker of Indian team has been Jadeja surpassing all other prime time bowlers. He always picks up wicket irrespective of his bowling skills. A lower order batsman with occasional brilliance, good diver on field & a left arm spin bowler. Is this a complete package for an all-rounder that India currently needs? Can he fill in the boots of the great Yuvraj Singh? He has been selected inspite of his injury. Can he regain fitness in a couple of weeks? Do you believe if Jadeja were the batsman in place of Yuvi in the 2011 WC quarter final, would've got India through?
Rating: 3.5/5.
10)Axar Patel- Matches: 9 Runs: 40 Wickets:14
He is as young as Binny in terms of experience. He is been termed as Indian future. The left-arm spin bowler doesn't give much room to the batsmen as seen in the previous ODI series. Has an economy rate of 4.89. He'll surely have a chance at the SCG. Can he be a conspicuous option for his Captain? Is he adroit enough for the excellent batsmen who can scoop anywhere out of the boundary? He is the youngest lad in the team for the WC. A round of applause.
Rating: 2.5/5(Based on IPL performances & first class career)
11) Ishant Sharma- Matches: 75 Wickets: 106
The senior most fast bowler in the squad with a very healthy experience of overseas conditions. Known for his bounce he's preferably the first choice for the selectors & the Cap. He has a good taking series on his CV(Commonwealth bank series 2007-08). Can he produce the same magic spells he did earlier? Can he be lucrative enough for the Indian squad to rattle through the opponent batting line-up? High hopes on.
Rating: 3.5/5.
12)B Kumar- Matches: 42 Wickets: 44
A swift swing bowler who has been currently captain's choice in the three formats of the game. His fitness questions are raised in the on-going test series. His economy rate is far better in analogous to his fellow mates. He produces wicket taking deliveries quite frequently. Bets raised on the UP swing bowler.
Rating: 3.5/5
13)Umesh Yadav- Matches: 38 Wickets: 47 Economy: 5.89
If you look at the recent ODI series against the Sri Lankans, Yadav has bowled considerably improved his bowling line & length. Bowls consistently at a speed of 140kmph. The Nagpur bowler has his first chance in the WC. Wish him the best to beat the batsmen.
Rating: 2.5/5
14) R Ashwin- Matches: 87 Wickets: 119
Economy: 4.89
India's specialist off spinner is going to tested second time in the WC. He's even handy with bat in his hands. Many believe he has the knack to replace the great Kumble. He has a decent record of taking wickets in the ODIs. Let's see if the wear & tear of the pitches support him for the turn. I would not miss the carrom ball.
Rating: 3.5/5
15) Md Shami- Matches:36 Wickets:68
Economy: 5.74
A fast bowler, bowls beautifully to the stumps even at slog overs. But sometimes he goes too expensive. With 36 matches under his belt, 68 wickets is far too good in his pocket. A successful bowler in terms of wicket taking deliveries but with a poor economy rate. He has to chip in at times or when the ball is new.
Rating: 3.5/5
Well , since 1975 we've had either Gavaskar or the Tendulkar but this time we have none. All fresh bloods. There are a couple of favourites for this time. India is not. We would love to hear "jitega bhai jitega, Ind jitega" reverberating in the stadiums. Indian players would be hammered brutally in every facets. Fans painted in zinc, blowing horns, cheering their throat out for the Indian team at the MCG in a day/night match would be a spectacular event. People would miss the most chanting "Sachinnn....Sachinnnn". Many fans really wanted Yuvi, Viru & Gambhir to play. Me too. But we've to go the selectors' way.
The tournament begins on 14th Feb. The following day is India vs the arch rival Pakistan. Sledging, ofcourse we'd love to see. Some OZ fans might say when Kohli is padded up, "Hey mate, you gonna get your ass whacked". And the look back in fiery eyes.
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