[harry10]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Although a stupendous feat. But that Stat in actual scares me and shows that clearly he's being stretched to the limits and looking at his past and the bowling action he carries, it's better to do a proper work load management for him, lest we lose him for some important matches.

Nothing to worry about. This isn't Pakistan management who runs down their pacers to ground. Bumrah is played only in important series. He has played few tests in India because he is rested here mostly. Siraj was rested last game. Bumrah is supposed to be rested coming game. Injuries are part of life for a sportsperson and will happen at some point of time.

[schumi_pete]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Why is this a concern? There is a 10 day gap between second and third test. Rest is all that he is doing.
Overwork and fatigue come in when you are playing back-to-back non-stop cricket, which this series is not. Test cricket is the highest platform there is. Let him play (unless he asks for a break).

There is ample time for him to rest in the upcoming IPL.

I wish the bolded bit were true, but he is most probably going to be flogged in every game that MI play in the IPL.

The BCCI is mulling resting him for the fourth test according to PTI reports, which doesn't suprise me at all. I don't know who else is in the pipeline based on domestic cricket performances over the last few years, but Mukesh Kumar is not the answer to any question that is worth asking in the first place.

Umesh Yadav has a great record in India, and I am surprised he is not even in the picture. It is a shame Shami is injured because we could really do with him in this series.

[am1m]

In the middle of all this, what is going on with Ishan Kishan is really puzzling. Rishab will return at some point, whether he will be the same player after such a serious injury and long layoff remains to be seen. Bharath is not really living up to expectations. In such a situation, one would think any wicketkeeper in the frame would grab this opportunity and cement his place. But Kishan doesn't look like he wants to.

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by am1m

In the middle of all this, what is going on with Ishan Kishan is really puzzling. Rishab will return at some point, whether he will be the same player after such a serious injury and long layoff remains to be seen. Bharath is not really living up to expectations. In such a situation, one would think any wicketkeeper in the frame would grab this opportunity and cement his place. But Kishan doesn't look like he wants to.

Just read a news article that "speculated" he packed up and went home after Jitesh Sharma was selected and he was benched. Was asked to play Ranji, he didn't and now he is training with the Pandyas.

Meanwhile Bumrah posts a rather weird post on insta purportedly indicating he did not get any support but now everyone is congratulating him.

Weird stuff all around.

Oh well.

[Shumi_21]

Originally Posted by am1m

In the middle of all this, what is going on with Ishan Kishan is really puzzling.

Apparently Ishan had asked for a break before the South Africa tour, which was granted. Then the BCCI was apparently angry that Ishan was "partying" with MSD. Which felt kinda stupid to me, because partying is exactly what a 20-something does when on break from their job.

But then the plot thickens. The team management asked Ishan to play a couple of first class games as preparation for the England series. But he chose to not comply, instead train with the Pandya brothers at Kiran More's academy in Baroda. Definitely puzzling.

Reading a few of the previous posts, I feel we're being a little unfair on Mukesh. He's the closest to being a Shami replacement, given his seam position and ability to move the ball both ways. I think he deserves a fair chance on the basis of his Ranji performances, just like a Rajat Patidar or a Sarfaraz Khan do. But then again, we are a batting country at the end of the day

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

Meanwhile Bumrah posts a rather weird post on insta purportedly indicating he did not get any support but now everyone is congratulating him.

Felt like Bumrah's post is targeted at the social media trolls who were almost badgering him when he was out with his back injury.

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by am1m

In the middle of all this, what is going on with Ishan Kishan is really puzzling. Rishab will return at some point. Bharath is not really living up to expectations, one would think any wicketkeeper in the frame would grab this opportunity and cement his place. But Kishan doesn't look like he wants to.

Just read a report that Ishan Kishan was upset that Jurel was given an opportunity in South Africa and that he was dropped. Hence he left for a break

Puzzling! Also saw another graph which showed comparison between Rishabh Pant and all other Indian keepers since 2018.

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

Felt like Bumrah's post is targeted at the social media trolls who were almost badgering him when he was out with his back injury.

Which is the problem with such posts. Lacks context.

[handsofsteel]

Vis-a-vis Rishabh Pant and fans clamouring for his inclusion ASAP (heck, even Sunil Gavaskar said he should be selected for the t20 wc even if on one leg).
He is a freak in test cricket no doubt as his achievements are beyond the stats (Gabba being a case in point). However, he’s proved to be very very mediocre in the t20i(not ipl) and odi formats which is actually puzzling at first glance (akin to sehwag’s relative lack of success in t20s). Deeper scrutiny points to the different mentality in tests wherein his unorthodoxy is disruptive whereas in ODIs and t20s, it’s par for the course and therefore expected (planned for) by the opposite teams.
Add to the fact that lack of fitness is inexcusable in the shorter formats and not so much in tests.
Therefore, I do not feel that he’s the right choice going into the t20 wc especially with so many other alternatives available. (Jitesh has been trailblazing in this regard)

[facelyft]

May be off-topic but, despite that fancy IPL which is attracting talent from all over the world; team India is struggling to get the basics right in terms of team composition. Here is format wise concern list.

T20 (WC is around the corner, so let me start with this format)
1. A dependable leadership group - Captain & Vice-captain
2. A mentor/coach that fits the T20 format
3. A reliable spinner who can play part anywhere in the world
4. A genuine medium-pace allrounder

Tests:
1. A leader: A guy who can build a team while most of the seniors are in their last phase. I wonder, who is the next young player part of the leadership group. Having someone like Rahul Dravid in the dressing room for a long time in coaching role, still nowhere near to finding a candidate or two to groom as the next leader? Pity.
2. A 2nd keeper: Among all the talent ppol from Ranji, IPL, India-A; it is pathetic to not have a reliable keeper+batter beyong Pant. I don't think batting is an additional skill for a keeper. Not many teams are having the luxury of picking a keeper who cannot hold the bat (I mean #11).
3. Spinners: This is THE biggest concern of all. Who is in line after Ashwin?

ODI:
May not be relevant for the next 2 years or so. However, this is the time to groom the next core team.
1. Again skipper: None
2. Spinner: None
3. Allrounder: None
4. Pacers: Other than Bumrah, I don't see any pacer evolving in domestic circuit or IPL level.

[hothatchaway]

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has 'injured' himself to spare the team management of moral dilemma ahead of the Rajkot test.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has 'injured' himself to spare the team management of moral dilemma ahead of the Rajkot test.

Not just Rajkot, he may miss all remaining tests. KL will replace him. Sarfraz may miss out again as it won't be fair to Patidhar just to play in one test and should get another opportunity.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by harry10

KL will replace him. Sarfraz may miss out again as it won't be fair to Patidhar just to play in one test and should get another opportunity.

They should have KL play as wicketkeeper and include Sarfaraz as well.

Need to try players when they are in form.

[Shumi_21]

Originally Posted by Fx14

They should have KL play as wicketkeeper and include Sarfaraz as well.

Need to try players when they are in form.

Would be a really tough job for the injury prone KL, especially with spinners bowling majority of the overs. Although I have a feeling Sarfaraz is replacing Iyer at Rajkot & KL will return at Ranchi.

Meanwhile, Shaw returned for Mumbai smashing 160 odd against Chhattisgarh, while Paddikal scored 150 odd against TN. What's interesting is that chief selector Ajit Agarkar was in attendance for Paddikal's third century of the tournament. Gill better score a double at Rajkot now

[SidTheChamp]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

Apparently Ishan had asked for a break before the South Africa tour, which was granted. Then the BCCI was apparently angry that Ishan was "partying" with MSD. Which felt kinda stupid to me, because partying is exactly what a 20-something does when on break from their job.

There's more to it. Ishan asked for break stating mental fatigue and want to spend time with family. The real reason was he wasn't going to be selected for 2nd test and didn't warn to warm the bench. After he got the break, he partied with MSD and then appeared in KBC also. So that's what he preferred rather than be along with the team. So BCCI was like you're not a senior player yet but you act like one. You can't pick and choose. Go through the hard route to be considered. There are players like Bharat and Zurel who will be there as reserve wicketkeeper without complains.

But then the plot thickens. The team management asked Ishan to play a couple of first class games as preparation for the England series. But he chose to not comply, instead train with the Pandya brothers at Kiran More's academy in Baroda. Definitely puzzling.
.

Yes it's very surprising. We don't know what information Ishan got but nobody axes his own chances at Indian team. Maybe he is on rebel mode and just want to enjoy IPL.
Come to think of it, had Ishan be on bench for the test matches in South Africa, he would have been the first choice wicketkeeper against England.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

The team management asked Ishan to play a couple of first class games as preparation for the England series. But he chose to not comply, instead train with the Pandya brothers at Kiran More's academy in Baroda. Definitely puzzling.

Ishan has time to practice but not play a domestic game! I understand that most if not none of our senior players have played in domestic games since several years but Ishan isn't even a regular member in the XI so not sure why he's dictating terms to the Selectors as if he's a marquee player like Bumrah. Or maybe he's just not interested in playing any red ball cricket. Hope better sense prevails & he's demoted in the Central Contracts not that it'll make much of a financial difference to him. As it is there are too many players in that list.