Best second-string Indian XI

Pujara is reasonably a successful Indian playerThe unforeseen humiliation of a series loss to Bangladesh had many rummaging through names in the Indian domestic circuit for possible replacements. The regulars haven’t lived up to expectations, one of the primary reasons put forward being fatigue from the exhausting schedule.To be fair, the core group of players has been playing continually since the New Zealand tour, and their tiredness is not unjustified. That is precisely what persuaded me to delve into the bench strength and pick out the best eleven from the ranks.Not surprisingly, as Alagappan Muthu mentioned in his article, India’s reserves hardly look formidable, with most of them having not featured in more than 10 international matches.However, as I present here the best second-string Indian XI, it is to be remembered that:- Consistency in domestic competitions, and not just current IPL performance, has been considered.- This is not a rookie XI but rather a combination of youngsters and domestic experience that can put up a resistance against the best line-ups in one-day cricket.- Only players excluded from the recent Bangladesh ODI series have been taken into account.

#1 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer

Popular as the Virender Sehwag of Under-19 cricket, Shreyas Iyer marked his debut Ranji season with 809 runs from just 10 matches for Mumbai. Averaging 50.56 in 17 innings, the 20-year old hammered his way to two centuries, in addition to 6 fifties. He replicated that form in List A cricket, scoring 273 runs at an average of 54.60 in 6 matches.

Having bagged an unexpectedly expensive contract for the Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2015, Iyer went on to score 439 runs from 14 matches at a strike-rate of 128.36. In an otherwise depleted Delhi batting line-up, the talented right-hander stood out with his aggressive strokeplay and fearlessness, making the world sit up and take notice.

Alternative: KL Rahul

#2 Robin Uthappa (wk)

Uthappa has an ample amount of International experience

Largely ignored by the national selectors for unexplained reasons, Robin Uthappa appears to have come of age with a stunning Ranji season and an equally rewarding IPL this year. Even if his exploits for the Kolkata Knight Riders are not considered, for he has been doing his best for years, it takes nothing out of the form he is in – 912 runs in 19 Ranji innings with a highest of 156 and 214 runs in 6 matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a highest of 87.

Despite featuring in the ODI series against Bangladesh last year, Uthappa had failed to make an impact, courtesy some poor umpiring decisions. Notwithstanding limited opportunities, Uthappa has flourished regularly at the top of the order be it for Karnataka or for KKR. In addition to a definite scarcity of consistent openers in the reserve bench, it is the added option of wicketkeeping that inclines the odds in favor of the domestic veteran.

Alternatives: Wriddhiman Saha, Dinesh Karthik

#3 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey

The aggressive middle-order batsman from Uttaranchal will always be remembered for scoring the first T20 century by an Indian in the IPL. His debut for Karnataka in the 2008-09 Ranji season started off on a phenomenal note with two half-centuries in first two matches.

Apart from a few hiccups, Manish Pandey has been thoroughly consistent in the domestic circuit for the past few years – a fact that is emphasized by his aggregate of 4832 runs at an average of 50.86 in 70 matches.

The metamorphosis from junior cricket to Karnataka’s next big Ranji talent has been relatively smooth since the right-hander had always been earmarked for the India cap. At 25, the dream, however, continues to elude him despite convincing performances in the IPL year after year.

With 472 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of 118.00, Pandey continues to make a strong point for his inclusion in the line-up.

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara has shown patience with his batting

There should not be any second thoughts about this. Hailed as an able replacement for Rahul Dravid at No.3 for India, Cheteshwar Pujara’s temperament and tireless batting have never been in the question.

What has been is his strike-rate, and that – as is evident from his Vijay Hazare Trophy matches – has improved by leaps and bounds. He had already tailored success stories in domestic cricket with a triple-century and two double before earning his Test cap.

After a fairy-tale beginning to his career, his Test form dipped last year and he was persuaded to go back to playing county cricket in England. A reasonably successful season ended in May with one fifty in four matches and an unbeaten 133 for Yorkshire against Hampshire.

#5 Manoj Tiwari (Captain)

Manoj Tiwary

At a time when India was desperately on the look-out for middle order options, Manoj Tiwary catapulted to fame with his maiden ODI century against West Indies in Chennai. However, he continued to warm the benches after that solitary display of brilliance as the likes of Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina gradually gained the foothold in the Indian playing XI.

In a career riddled with injuries, Tiwary has showcased his class on every opportunity that he has been provided with. A familiar name in the Ranji circuit, the Pietersenesque right-hander has shouldered the responsibility of the Bengal batting line-up for years.

With 302 runs in 5 innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 75 and 151 in two innings in the Deodhar Trophy this year, Tiwary makes as one of the best skipper choice.

#6 Karun Nair

Karun Nair

Since his debut against Punjab in late 2013, Karnataka’s middle-order batsman Karun Nair has been creating waves in the domestic circuit, especially in the Ranji Trophy. After three successive hundreds in three matches that steered his team to a Ranji title after 15 years, Nair returned all guns blazing in the next season with 709 runs in 16 matches including a triple century against Tamil Nadu in the final.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy saw him pile up two half-centuries in 7 matches with a highest of 86 and an average of 46.00. Turning up for the South Zone in the Deodhar Trophy, he amassed 109 runs in 2 matches at a strike-rate of 113.54.

After a half-decent IPL for the Rajasthan Royals, the 23-year old would look to salvage himself in the big stage if given the opportunity.

#7 Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra is one of the most successful bowlers of IPL

Amit Mishra has been the vital cog in the Haryana team for years, spearheading their spin bowling department with a baggage of wickets. Although a Ranji veteran, the 32-year old never really went on to establish himself as India’s first-choice leg-spinner, the reasons being his inconsistency in the international arena and his career coinciding with those of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

However, the reason I favor Mishra ahead of Pragyan Ojha – both being out of contention for quite a while now – is the former’s success in Zimbabwe last time. Coming off an impressive 2013 IPL season, he was selected for the Zimbabwe tour where India sent a second-string side under the leadership of Virat Kohli.

At the end of 5 ODIs, Mishra recorded the highest number of wickets in a bilateral series with 18 scalps at an average of 11.61.

Alternatives: Pragyan Ojha, Yuzvendra Chahal

#8 Parvez Rasool

Parvez Rasool

After an outstanding 2012-13 Ranji season with Jammu and Kashmir, Parvez Rasool was thrown into spotlight for his 7/45 for the Board President’s XI against the touring Australian side in February 2013. Strong performances henceforth opened up many doors as he scripted his name into the record books for being the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to bag an IPL contract in 2013.

He was called up for the Zimbabwe tour but spent all his time as a reserve player. A year later, he became the first Jammu and Kashmir cricketer to play an ODI for India when he debuted against Bangladesh on June 15. The off-spinner continues to wait in the wings having completed another decent Ranji season with the ball and a couple of sporadic performances with the bat.

#9 Ishwar Pandey

Ishwar Pandey

Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Ishwar Pandey had ruffled feathers in 2012-13 having scalped the highest number of wickets in the Ranji Trophy. At 6 feet 2 inches with broad shoulders, Pandey’s relatively docile pace of mid-130s offers a threat when he gets the ball to bounce even from a good length.

It is this quality that earned him a call-up for the tour of New Zealand tour late 2013. However, apart from a practice match at Whangarei where the teams agreed to play 12 cricketers each, Pandey had to sit out throughout the series.

He was kept waiting in the following Asia Cup too and returned home without having made his debut in either Tests or ODIs. If his consistent performances in the IPL are to go by, India might be missing out on some fresh talent in the international stage.

#10 Pankaj Singh

Pankaj Singh has played one Test for India

Rajasthan cricketer Pankaj Singh’s exploits with the cherry are well-known stories in the Ranji circuit. With a tall, sturdy frame and an easy run-up, his length and accuracy are much revered by the opposition in the domestic arena.

However, in spite of having played 88 first class matches, he had to wait till 2014 for his Test debut. An unflattering display in a solitary ODI in 2010 had removed him from the selection radar for quite some time before the 2 Test matches against England at Southampton and Manchester.

The medium-pacer, however, emerged as the 10th highest wicket-taker in the 2014-15 Ranji season with 36 scalps in 7 matches at an average of just above 21. In the 4 matches in Vijay Hazare Trophy, he ended up with figures of 32.3-2-158-14 including a 6/50 in a losing cause against Vidarbha.

#11 Varun Aaron

Varun Aaron always has been in and out of the national squad

The excitation surrounding Varun Aaron is understandable. Not always do sub-continent bowlers attain a pace of 150 kmph, less so when the bowler is from India. Obviously, this Jharkhand bowler shot to fame when he notched up 153 kmph against Gujarat during the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy final. A product of MRF Pace Academy at Chennai, Aaron has established himself as a genuine quick bowler through the years, refusing to cut down on pace despite being injury-prone.

Since his debut against England at Mumbai in 2011, Aaron has donned the ODI jersey on 9 occasions enjoying moderate success, the last time being in the 1st ODI against Sri Lanka on November 2, 2014. His most notable performance of late came when he turned up for Rest of India against Karnataka returning with figures of 6/63 and 2/131 in March this year.