ICC World Cup 2019
Part 18 - Is Virat Kohli a best player or best captain???
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Apart from the discussion for World Cup 2019 like who will lift the cup. Itc important for India to question about the captaincy of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shasthri's team selection. Because of them only we have lot of controversies after the announcement of world cup squad. Yes for the past 4 years after the retirement of Dhoni and resignation of Coach Anil Kumble. It seems like Indian team under the control of Ravi Shasthri and Virat Kohli. They are trying different things but forget to think as like as MSD or Ganguly. Most importantly they gave lot of importance to wrist spinners rather than finger spinners. More over they are not even considering the part time bowlers. Lets discuss about the team strength and what are the things need to correct for this world tournament.
The Top notchers:
India always believe in left and right combo for opening the innings. Sachin Tendulkar- Sourav Ganguly, Viru-Gambhir and now its time for Shikar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. They both have already played as opening pair for India in 2015 world cup. So no need to worry about them. Last time they both performed well at Group stages. But the problem is their consistency. Shikar Dhwan scoring atleast a century in a series but after than we cant expect anything from him. In case of Rohit its quite different like if he survived for 30 balls that would be his game otherwise we cant rely him.
After the retirement of Gambhir India tried many opening partnership. They got Shikar Dhawan via IPL. Being a left hander he got more chances to play when compared to other right handers like Rahane. Initially he face difficulty in scoring runs. Later he picked up very well and now he is one of the best opening batsman in the world. Only problem with him is his consistency. Shikar should change this. He should try to hold his wicket atleast for 10 overs.
Rohit Sharma, Man of double century or Hitman. Within short period he achieved many unbreakable record. Not only created he broke Sachin's record of most 150plus runs in One day International. Only problem of Rohit is surviving in first 15 overs. He took many balls to make contact with balls exactly at middle of the bat. If he does no one can stop him. But if he struggles even after facing 30 plus balls definitely he will lose wickets. Bowlers will get know when we can get rohit wicket. England pitch is the biggest challenge for Rohit Sharma. Shikar will perform well at England but in case of Rohit Sharma he is a lion in home ground and a cub in away.
Indian Skipper Virat Kohli at No3, Only batsman in the world who can able to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's 100 centuries in cricket. No doubt he is the current generation best batsman and king of chasing. He fight alone many times and won matches for India. Once he faced difficulty in facing Anderson's swing at England. But in last tour he performed above the par and proves he is a run machine. But remember kohli, this is world cup challenges will be hard to achieve. More than a batsman Kolhi has to prove his captaincy. MS Dhoni is there behind the stumps to guide him. But chances are there for his retirement after this world cup. So Kohli should learn to handle the team alone.
No 4, a biggest headache for India in last 4 years. Until Dhoni was the captain of Indian cricket Suresh Raina played at no 4. More than a batsman he is a good parttime bowler to break partnership and world's best fielder in saving runs. But his short ball weakness was completely exposed and now he cant even imagine about the opportunity to play for India. But till now he is the best option for that place. Later they tried manish pandey and gave him lot of chances. But he is not even using that. Then KL Rahul, Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Rishab Pant even test kingpin Pujara also played at that position. But no one satisfied the selection committee. After the IPL 2018, Rayudu bat at no4 and performed well. Everyone thought he is suitable for that spot. But just before the selection he played against australia in a home series and spoiled his entire chances of getting in world cup squad.
Still India didnt found a perfect player at no4, they selected Vijay Shankar as a option at no4. But that is a crucial position batsman at no4 always having capability of hold the innings as well as light up at death over and has to score boundaries. Our suggestion is Kohli should try KL Rahul in that spot, he is a good player with improper shot selection while losing wickets. If he fails Kohli can use Vijay Shankar.
Wicket Keeper, Captain, Finisher, Lightining Stumper:
At No5, what to say about Mahendra Singh Dhoni??? everyone knows about him well. Just started his career as a wicket keeper, captain and now adviser to captain. When other country have best wicket keeping batsmen like Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher, Brendon Mccullum, Kamran Akmal, Kumar Sangakkara india using a batsman like Rahul Dravid as wicket keeper. But MSD came to over take all of the world class players. Because of him only Dinesh Karthik didnt get chance to play for India. Apart from that MSD playing in his last world cup. People expecting Virat to give a proper send off to him with world cup as like MSD did for Sachin in 2011. Other team batsman be aware of MSD please dont take your legs from crease or even in air. If you fails to touch the crease if will never fails to get you.
Another good batsman is there as a wicket keeping batsman. But he will get chance if Dhoni is not fit to play. That will never happen. But DK is a good alternative to play at no 4. Dont know Virat and Ravi combo will consider this guy at no4 or not.
All-rounders:
After a long gap India got a perfect bowling all rounder, Hardik Pandya. People used to call him as next Kapil Dev. May be he is a all rounder. But he helps India only from bowling side. In ongoing IPL season his batting performance his like giving a challenge to world hitters like Russell, Pollard and Gayle. If he continues the same form in world cup its good for India. and MSD's finisher pressure will reduce. Remember this guy scored a furious knock at Champions Trophy finals against Pakistan but ends in failing side.
Apart from main all rounder hardik, India have 3 more players in this list. Kedhar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar and Ravidra Jadeja. Kedhar Jadhav suffering from injury now so we cant expect him in playing XI. But if he recovers definitely he should play as a partnership breaking key bowler.
Vijay Shankar, is the lastest sensation of Indian cricket. The player from south played as a alternate for Hardik at new zealand and australia. By his good performance and matured innings he booked his spot in world cup ahead of Rishab Pant. Only reason he came in squad ahead of Pant is he is a medium pace bowling all rounder.
Ravindra Jadeja, an experienced all rounder. He came as batting all rounder but now he became as bowling all rounder. Our suggestion is to keep Jaddu in squad at no 7. Because if he is in playing XI, one regular spinner is enough, he is one of the best fielder, a striking batsman too. But Kolhi and Ravi Shasthri should decide. I think one more time Ravi will pick Chahal a head of Jadeja and will tell as wrist spinner. Ravi Shasthri should remember Jaddu is the bowler of the tournament of ICC Champions Trophy when India won that title at England.
Spinners and Bowlers:
The trust on wrist spinners from Virat and Ravi didnt reduced till now. So only they picked Chahal and Kuldeep in squad. They are performing well we didnt say no. But its not about the style of delivering spin. Its about the matter of thinking right ball at right time. Spinner must have to think different plan to grab inform batsmen. Muralidharan and Warner also spinners but they became legend only because of their presence of mind. As per our analysis Chahal no need for England pitch if Jadeja in playing XI. Chinaman bowler Kuldeep should play in squad as a spinner.
Bowlers, we know about India bowling before 2000. After that Zaheer, Nehra, Irfan, Balaji were the best bowlers for India. Then a new era came as Indian bowlers Era. Because of the trio Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar and Shami. Both are different style bowlers. Bumrah a death yorker specialist and a student of Malinga, Bhuvi a swing bowler in good bowling pitch, Shami a brilliant bowler in picking wickets. These trio should play in the world cup for India. Both Bumrah and Shami was in peak form. But Bhuvi was in out of form now. We can use him in practice matches, so that he will use that chances and will return to form.
Best Playing XI in WC 2019 at England:
1. Shikar Dhawan
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Virat Kolhi (C)
4. KL Rahul (or) Dinesh Karthik
5. MS Dhoni (wk)
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Ravindra Jadeja (is best option but lot of chances are there like kohli and ravi will pick Chahal)
8. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar
9. Mohammed Shami
10. Jasprit Bumrah
11. Kuldeep yadav
Schedule for ICC WC 2019:
Captaincy of Kohli and Team Selection of Ravi Shasthri:
Team India is ready to win the world cup. They were in the race of champions. But everything based on the team selection of Ravi Shasthri and Kohli. MS Dhoni is guiding the fielders and bowlers inside pitch. But outside pitch Kohli is the one and only responsible person. Usually India will have a part time key bowler in squad for using him at crucial time like breaking strong partnership. In 2003, India have many players like that Sehwagh, Sachin even Ganguly too. Any of them will do that job. In 2015 and 2011 India had Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina. But Kohli and Ravi not having interest in picking those kind of players. Even they are not using Shikar or Rohit. they both also can bowl few overs. As of now their strategy is if you are batsman you are only should bat, If bowlers do only that job, then who else will do that job?? Answer from Ravi is for that only we have all rounders in squad.
It looks like Ravi Shasthri building the same kind of team as like before Ganguly took charge as captain. Now Yuvaraj Singh also not there, Its about Hardik Pandya only. They had a small option like Kedhar Jadhav in squad but he is also suffering from injury. One more important thing is their trust on wrist spinners. Remember a guy from Srilanka named Ajantha mendis was once a night mare for batsmen. But now he is no more in team. Batsmen got new strategy to play that guy. Usually batsmen will struggle while facing a new kind of bowler but once they got to know his variations and bowling action, they will screw him like anything. So we need only a bowler with lot of presence of mid in taking decision at right time. R Ashwin is one of them, if a batsman hit his ball he will back with new style in next over itself. Last year also he tried to bowl a sudden leg spin. Definitely he will confuse the batsman. But the coach spoiling the world's best spinner. If India lost this world cup first thing BCCI should remove Ravi Shasthri from coach and have to make Rahul Dravid as Indian Coach.
Its not about winning the matches, its about how to handle the situation and taking decisions at the time of match. A big challenge waiting for Kohli. If still he fails to preform as a good captain. BCCI please make Rohit Sharma as Indian Captain. He is a better captain than Kohli. Lets see whether India will repeat the same magic as they did in 1983 at the same England.
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