[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by Eddy

What if we are put in to bat ? The game is likely to last 80-90 overs then.

What prediction
Yes, our bowlers are expected to clean them up by 30-40overs.

Dhawan century, Dhoni duck!!

[Oxy]

A middle order of Dhoni, DK, Rayudu, Jadhav. Are we going to carry these pensioners to the world cup?

Someone like Pant being benched for Dhoni is just unbelievably stupid.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Oxy

A middle order of Dhoni, DK, Rayudu, Jadhav. Are we going to carry these pensioners to the world cup?

Someone like Pant being benched for Dhoni is just unbelievably stupid.

That may as well cost us the world cup too. Selectors are acting like fools. Rayadu and Pandey aren't cut out for this level. Dhoni is a big liability. We need match changers like Pant in the team and he is no where to be seen.
We should play Rahul at 3. Kohli 4. Kartik 5. Pant 6. Pandya/jadav at 7. This gives us a solid middle and lower order.

[Marauder]

Originally Posted by PPS

Isn't it the Emirates Cricket Board?

No, the BCCI was supposed to host this tournament in India but they are hosting it in the UAE because of the issues with Pakistan

BCCI have come to some sort of an agreement that India won't play in Abu Dhabi from what i read.

Yeah, seems to be a late change. Looks like the BCCI finally decided to use their muscle, as they have done in the past.

On the topic of the Indian middle order, I think Kohli should bat at 4. Rohit and Dhawan start very slowly in the powerplay and don't make judicious use of the first 10 overs. England have done extremely well recently because of their top order of Roy, Bairstow and Hales who go after the bowling at the start and look to get 70-80 runs in the first 10 overs. Similarly, Rohit, Dhawan and Rahul should go after the bowling where India would effectively be playing with 3 openers. Kohli would come in at 4 but with a similar amount of overs to play. He can utilise the platform set by the Top 3 and take the game till the end overs where Jadhav/DK and Pandya can provide the finishing kick.

[Oxy]

What a pathetic team. We are well on our way to lose to Hong Kong.

Thank you Kohli and Shastri.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by NPV

I hope the game against Pakistan and maybe another couple more test the team, even a loss in one of them can be an eye opener given we have so few matches left before the world cup.

Didn't expect my words would come true so soon right in the first match itself against Hong Kong who are giving a good fight with 110-0 in 20 overs.
Looking at this positively, it will be a learning experience playing under pressure.

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by Oxy

What a pathetic team. We are well on our way to lose to Hong Kong.

Thank you Kohli and Shastri.

I guess that would be awesome. Would be a perfect wake up call for the overconfident side. I am rooting for HK today

[msdivy]

Great practice game for India, which Kohli would have been proud of. Now back to the event. India have to bring their A game today. Hope they got enough rest.

[Oxy]

The entire team needs a massive overhaul. We cannot be carrying this bunch to the world cup next year.

Karthik and Chahal are mental midgets.
Rayudu has a career strike rate of 76 in ODIs.
Jadhav is horrible.
Dhoni and Pandey are momentum suckers.
Shardul is terrible.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is overrated. Averages almost 40 and has an economy rate of over 5. Has managed only 90 wickets in 89 games in his career.

God help us.

[Santoshbhat]

Embarrassing game yesterday. We gave Hong Kong an opening stand of 170 . Saw some ridiculous batting at the death yesterday by Jadhav. It was almost as if he had a wager with someone "I will sweep atleast one to the fineleg fence off the medium pacer today". He tried that same shot almost every ball! and failed!!! He got so many length balls which any good finisher could have smoked down the ground.


Shastri's favourite comment with the mike in the com box "This is a young team, they are are building a team for the future". We would always make fun of this comment and wonder what's wrong with the now? Why not play the best 11 in the country right now? When is that elusive bright future coming? Now there he is mocking us from the dressing room.

[sgiitk]

Sorry folks for going off topic:

Now the Indo-Pak match in Dubai. I am one for boycotting / cancelling it. May be Siddhu can play with Manishankar Aiyar, etc.

Butchering a soldier in cold blood - sorry that is not 'cricket', but war. I think we should reciprocate with a declaration of war.

[PPS]

Just like how in the Test Matches we rely very heavily on Virat Kohli, same way in the ODI's we rely too heavily on the top 3 - Rohit, Dhawan & Kohli! Rest of the batting unit is just not effective enough, more so in the last 10 overs when a finishing kick is needed which has been a perennial problem since quite some time now.

Kedar Jadhav is in the side more for his handy bowling than batting. Our frontline bowling is more or less settled & the selectors need to make sure they don't burnout by the time World Cup arrives.

[kavensri]

when will we realize that Dhoni is not the same '10 year back Dhoni'? If he is in the team, then he has to come in at #3 or #4. If not, it's really painful to watch him struggling to pace the innings!

[hemanth.anand]

Bumrah back for Shardul....good
Pandya back for Khaleel...not very good but still ok
Karthik and Kedar continue...
Rahul not included...

The coach is turning out to be one hopeless fellow!

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Pandya back for Khaleel...not very good but still ok

Resting him?

Karthik and Kedar continue...

Why are the playing Karthik and Dhoni both?!

Rahul not included...

Just hope they don't destroy his confidence like they have with Rahane