Team India 2015

The pinnacle had been achieved. The World Cup had been won. In April 2011, the Indian Cricket Team had scaled the highest mountain. They had truly become the World Champions and also the number 1 ranked Test team. Then the slide started and we were made to look into the face of abject reality much sooner than any of us had ever expected. The cracks were visible, the creaks making more sound than ever and India was humiliated in England.

The thing about being completely demolished is that you can start all over again with new building blocks. The process has started and in my view, the teams taking the mantle for ODIs/Test/T20s should have roughly the following composition when the World Cup takes place in Australia/New Zealand in 2015.

Opening Batsmen:

Tests:

Abhinav Mukund: The southpaw from Chennai has amassed runs in the domestic level at a consistent level and was finally given a chance in West Indies where although he didn’t score too many runs, he was solid in technique and showed the skills of an opener who can negate the new ball and take the shine off before other batsmen follow. The fact that he has scored more than 4000 runs in domestic level with an average of over 56 and has 15 first class centuries to his name, including a triple hundred, underscores his potential as a prolific run scorer at the top. His stomach for fight against the new ball bowlers in helpful conditions was shown by his innings of 62 and 49 against West Indies and England, where he faced the pace of Fidel Edwards and Stuart Broad and fought it out.

Murali Vijay: Another Chennai batsman, Murali Vijay had shown great technique batting at the top alongside either Gambhir or Sehwag in the absence of the other and had looked beautifully set at the crease showing superb technique in his initial starts of 33 and 41 against Australia. His athletic close fielding had also won accolades from teammates. He looked set for his debut hundred against Sri Lanka on a batting friendly track in Mumbai where Sehwag scored 293 before getting dismissed for 87. He finally achieved that mark in a record partnership with Sachin Tendulkar against Australia in 2010. But after that series, his next 8 innings, in bowling friendly conditions of South Africa and West Indies, showing 19,9,8,0,11,3,5,45 have brought just 100 runs at an average of 12.5. This batsman has looked at ease on home soil but needs to gear up to face the challenges meted out in bowling friendly conditions. Murali Vijay, with his solid technique looks the perfect foil alongside Abhinav Mukund while maintaining the right-left combination at the top.

ODIs/T20s:

Ajinkya Rahane: What caught the eye in the disastrous tour of England was the breathtaking fluidity with which Ajinkya Rahane played the short ball. Along with Parthiv Patel, Rahane launched a counter attack on the English pace bowlers who had, till then, used the short ball to their advantage in the longer format. This batsman from Maharashtra has amassed more than 4800 runs at an average of 68.47 with 18 first class hundreds under his belt. He is adept at playing the much talked about short pitched delivery and has really shown the talent needed to open the account in the shorter format of the game at least.

Parthiv Patel/Dinesh Karthik/Robin Uthappa: The tussle between the three has been such that they have been each given a fair share of chance at the international level but find themselves out of the playing XI invariably because of the lack of empty spaces with these positions occupied by the stalwarts like Gambhir, Sehwag and Tendulkar. With each performing moderately well at different times and Robin Uthappa being out of the contention for the national side for more than 3 years now, I think Dinesh Karthik or Parthiv Patel will have better chances with their specialist keeping abilities, forming a backup to the much overburdened captain MS Dhoni.

The problem with forming an opening partnership beyond Sehwag and Gambhir lies in the fact that both these batsmen have at least 3-4 years of cricket left between them with Sehwag turning 33 recently. So they may still be at the top for the next world cup with the contention solely being for one spot rather than 2 for the better part of the careers of the younger players.

Middle Order Batsmen:

The middle order is the biggest gap to be filled in coming times without the likes of Sachin, Dravid and Laxman, especially in the longer format since the shorter format is already quite stable.

Virat Kohli: Many call him the next captain in waiting in the Indian team but before any of that, he has to transfer his success in shorter format over to Tests. He has been given a very short testing period in the West Indies but will have more chances pretty soon. There is no doubt about his talent and he is turning out to be the next go-to man for the Indian team in the one-dayers. Only his temperament is in question and how well will he accept the challenge of the longer format will be what India must be praying for in coming days.

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Suresh Raina: When he dons the colored clothing, he looks a different player altogether than in whites. Although he started his test career with a century, his inability to play the short ball has been much talked about in the Test arena. This has been his sole undoing and he will have to break these shackles against the rising delivery. His importance in the middle order was highlighted with his partnership of 146 with Harbhajan Singh against West Indies when India was languishing at 85-6. It proved to be a match winning innings at the end. He has to overcome the demons of the rising ball before finally settling down in the longer format.

Cheteshwar Pujara: After years of prolific run scoring at the domestic level, Pujara was finally given a chance at the international level against Australia in Bangalore. He drove a ball through the covers beautifully for a boundary before getting plumb in front of the wicket with a delivery that kept low and would’ve spelt an end for many great batsmen. With middle order set in stone, such opportunities to get a chance at number 5 or 6 is extremely rare for a newcomer since a long time in Indian test team. Dhoni quickly understood the importance of a second chance for young Pujara and promoted him to number 3 in the second innings. What followed was breathtaking technique and fluid strokes. In an almost chanceless innings of 72, Pujara captured the imagination of the selectors and fans alike for what they would wish for in a batsman in the middle order in the future. Batting on South African pitches at number 6 wasn’t easy but Gary Kirsten was impressed with the youngster’s technique and backed him to be a regular in the middle order once the greats retire.

MS Dhoni: His back permitting, he can continue to be the glue that holds this team together for another 5-6 years at least. He can take a break from his duties behind the stump to extend his career with Parthiv or Karthik taking the responsibility from him. He is a batsman who has no limits to strokes he can play as long as they bring him runs. His balanced approach in defense and attack is something that reflects his knowledge of the game in its most raw form. He is a great captain and will continue to an effective batsman for many more years to come.

All-Rounder:

Ravindra Jadeja: Jaddu, in his newest avatar is a batsman capable of clearing the field with ease and has been an effective left arm spinner in containing and sometimes running through the opposition on helpful pitches. His stomach for playing the tests remains doubtful although he gave a perfect answer to such doubts by hitting a triple century in the domestic circuit recently. Although it’s too early to say, it augurs well for India if Jadeja can mix aggression with caution and bring a temperament within, to survive at the test level.

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Yusuf Pathan/Irfan Pathan: The Pathan brothers have both dazzled to disappoint in the end. While Irfan’s bowling continues to be mediocre with wickets not coming at a consistent level, it is quite difficult to imagine a situation where he will make a cut for either ODIs or Tests. But his service may very well be required in the T20s with his batting being the factor for his selection more than the bowling. Yusuf Pathan, the Indian equivalent of Boom-Boom, has been found to be susceptible to the rising delivery and hasn’t contributed with ball substantially either. But his explosive centuries against New Zealand and South Africa remain fresh in mind and he continues to be a player suited best for shorter formats.

Spinners:

Ravichandran Ashwin: Ashwin is auguring well to be the leader the of Indian spin department for years to come with his ability to do things with the ball that can make batsmen feel for air rather than the ball more often than not. But his real test remains; to be tested overseas and making adjustments as the batsmen figure out his variations.

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Pragyan Ojha/Amit Mishra: The careers of both the spinners have been almost identical so far in terms of statistics. Mishra has taken 43 wickets at an average of 43.3 in 13 tests and 19 wickets at an average of 30.26 in 15 ODIs while Pragyan Ojha has taken 55 wickets at an average of 35.9 in equal number of tests and 20 wickets at an average of 30 with just one extra ODI. It can be said that they have been rotated equally for the second spinner’s role by the management with neither securing a permanent role. However, with Harbhajan currently out of the squad, any one bad performance from either of these will be a boon to the other with him cementing the second spinner’s role in the Tests for near future at least.

Pace Bowlers:

Tests:

Ishant Sharma: If he continues to be away from injuries, he is surely on the path to become one of the greatest Indian bowlers. He has pace which is generated by his tall frame and his rhythmic bowling reminds one of Morne Morkel at his best. Still just 23, he has been pitch forked into the role of the leader of the pace attack in the absence of Zaheer. With Zaheer back in the team, it will give Ishant the much needed learning curve still left for him to take to the path of greatness.

Umesh Yadav: It is too early to say but this young man has impressed with his pace and more importantly, his controlled pace. He is just 2 test matches old and he will face his sternest test in the Australian tour. He must be preferred over Varun Aaron for the Test slot at present but with more games under his belt, the latter too holds great promise to join forces at the top level.

ODIs:

Praveen Kumar: He is one bowler who can be as thought of a ‘harmless’ bowler due to his lack of pace. But what PK loses in terms of pace, he makes up with his control of swing over the ball. His ability to swing the ball both ways is a potent weapon that has found many batsmen wanting in facing him first up. He will be the leader of the attack in the absence of Zaheer Khan and has the sharp mind that understands the game much like Dhoni himself.

Varun Aaron: Definitely the fastest Indian bowler at the present, he needs as much exposure possible at the shorter level before he can be inducted into the test arena. His ability to reverse swing the ball at pace has started somewhat premature comparisons with the great Waqar Younis. But he embodies the hopes of the emerging India that requires a pace attack capable of beating the likes of South Africa, Australia and England in their backyards, consistently.

My Playing XI

Tests (from): Abhinav Mukund, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c/w), R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha/Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar; with an option of including either Rahane in the middle order or Jadeja down the order.

ODIs (from): Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel/Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, MS Dhoni (c/w), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav; with an option of including Murali Vijay at the top slot pushing down Parthiv Patel/Dinesh Karthik in place of a bowler to strengthen the batting.