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Tuesday 25 June 2013

Indian Cricket, The Way Forward...


            With the recent triumph in the Champions Trophy, the Indian cricket team under the innovative leadership of MSD has reasserted it's dominance in ODI cricket. The win has even impressed Michael Vaughan who didn't miss taking potshots at Team India, the BCCI and even the IPL in the wake of India's dismal show in Test match cricket. But a concern still looms over the future, is this team capable enough for the title-defense in the hostile trans-Tasmanian conditions at WC 2015? And what about the not-so-smooth transition in Test cricket? Let's take a look at the options we have, and then decide if we are ready to go forward with a young team or do we still need the services of the veterans?

Gautam Gambhir

Age : 31 years 254 days

Looking back at the recently concluded ICC showpiece event, when I think about what was missing in the win, I am reminded of the absence of Gautam Gambhir and his anchoring knocks of 75 in the ICC World T20 final in 2007 and 97 in the 2011 WC Finals. The 2009 ICC Test Player of the Year, Gambhir has always been a class act who deserves to play in all three forms of the game. Had Rohit and Shikhar not provided those solid starts, his exclusion in the CT squad would have been much debated. The no. 3 position is an ideal one for him as he has the experience of an opener and can provide stability in case of an early wicket. Now, Virat Kohli is a promising player at no. 3 and hasn't yet put a foot wrong. Of the 13 ODI centuries scored by Virat, 7 have come against Sri Lanka and 11 in the Indian sub-continent.  Though Virat has all the essentials of a successful player - the temperament, technique, agility and positivity (emboldened by his 133* at Hobart), Gambhir feels to be a more reliable bet at no. 3 especially in tough alien conditions. Gambhir can also open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan if Rohit Sharma reverts back to his fickle game. Even in Test matches, Gauti is preferred at no. 3 which will maintain a left hand-right hand opening combination with Sehwag/Vijay alongside a certain Shikhar Dhawan. 

Verdict :  It'd indeed be foolish to write Gautam Gambhir off. Raising his fielding standards (which are not so bad, he does field at silly-point) would pave his way into the ODI playing XI.  Having not been considered for the Tri-Series in West Indies, the determined cricketer must be itching for a comeback into the team. Don't be surprised if he returns as the saviour in 2015 WC!

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