[avingodb]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

His 110 vs Aus

the 110 came when India was already in a strong position and it was counterattacking innings. Hardly a test-like inning. On the other hand, I am hoping, Gill and Shaw and Vihari make the most of this chance and raise the benchmark for Rohit Sharma too.

[PPS]

5-0 is a fantastic achievement, but lets not get carried away! The T20 team still has a few issues.

Iyer & Pandey are players in a similar mould. None of them can really play the big shots from the word go. They're more suited for ODI's. Lack of firepower in the last 5 overs is an issue due to no Pant which was a surprise & Hardik Pandya's injury.

Remember, we won just about everything before the 50 over WC inspite of a shaky middle order, situation looks similar now!

For a change, selectors have done a good job by not mixing formats & not selecting KL Rahul for Tests.

Kuldeep has now been dropped from the Test Squad after Ravi Shastri said in Australia that he'll be India's No.1 spinner in foreign conditions!

[NPV]

Prithwi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal make their ODI debuts - good move, but I didn't expect such a change, thought Rahul would open with Shaw/Agarwal at the other end. Double change gives both a chance to prove themselves.

*Shaw out after scoring 20 runs
Edit:Agarwal out after scoring 32 runs

Originally Posted by PPS

5-0 is a fantastic achievement, but lets not get carried away! The T20 team still has a few issues.

True, New Zealand were without Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult, who have played really well for them recently.

For me, the more satisfying thing was winning two matches from almost a definite loss situation, they kept their nerves and New Zealand made the mistakes.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by carboy

He has been given a hell of a lot of chances & is a dud.
Luckily, selectors also seem to know this - he hasn't been included in the test squad.

Originally Posted by carboy

Far more than his fair share of chances. 36 tests. That's a hell of a lot of tests.

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

I know he has had his share of ups and downs. But I think the Rahul we see today has learnt to adapt and is confident. His 110 vs Aus and 158 vs WI were great innings. I've no doubt that he'll force his way back in to the test side sooner or later.

I agree with carboy that selectors have made a wise decision of selecting him for the tests now. But I wouldn't call him a dud as yet. He is very similar to Rohit Sharma I feel . He's got that class, talent and temperament for tests. But strangely he's better in LOIs. A look at some of our own posts a few years back on this very thread will show funny comments using words like "Talent" and "Nohit". But now he's a confirmed opener in all 3 formats. Rohit has 2000 runs in 30 tests and Rahul has 2000 in 35 tests. Not a huge difference. If Rahul continues his LOI for another year, he'll surely comeback to the team in whites.

Originally Posted by NPV

Prithwi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal make their ODI debuts - good move, but I didn't expect such a change, thought Rahul would open with Shaw/Agarwal at the other end. Double change gives both a chance to prove themselves.

*Shaw out after scoring 20 runs
Edit:Agarwal out after scoring 32 runs

Decent start from the openers I'd say. 50 runs opening partnership on debut in an away match is acceptable. The way they lost their wickets is pure inexperience at this level and they'll learn in a few matches. We now have 5 options for those 2 opening slots which is both good and bad. If Rahul cements his place at 5/6, he'll make it easy for himself and others.

In today's team. I feel Kedar Jadhav could've made place for Manish Pandey. but that advantage from the round arm bowling would've got Kedar in the team.

[ValarMorghulis]

The way KL is playing 5 down, it is remarkable! I wonder why we need Pant in this team as of now in either T20s or ODIs. If KL can bat like this regularly it is phenomenal with him acting both like a hitter or a proper batsman in case of a collapse.

[vibbs]

I think Sreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are good for 4 and 5.

Rahul has the ability to clear the ropes and he is a proper batsman as well. Once Pandya is fit, he comes in place of Jadhav and we will have a settled batting line up with Pant being a standby to fill in the spot incase of injuries and also to keep others on their toes with performance.

The way Mayank and Shaw played today, it gives me confidence that we have decent back up options for openers as well in case Rohit/Dhawan are out injured. Still early days though. Lets see how we fare in the remaining ODIs.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by vibbs

we will have a settled batting line up with Pant being a standby to fill in the spot incase of injuries and also to keep others on their toes with performance.

Pant has to be the keeper in 50 over cricket.
Doesn't make sense for Rahul to keep wickets in the 50 over format. You wouldn't want one of your better T20 player over-exhausted & fatigued going into the T20 WC later this year!

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by PPS

...You wouldn't want one of your better T20 player over-exhausted & fatigued going into the T20 WC later this year!

Respectfully disagree. These are professional cricketers who are tough cookies. Also, if Dhoni/ Gilly/ Butler could do it for better part of a decade why not KL?

[PPS]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Respectfully disagree. These are professional cricketers who are tough cookies. Also, if Dhoni/ Gilly/ Butler could do it for better part of a decade why not KL?

Because his body is not used to doing it! He's just a part-time/makeshift keeper at the end of the day. The names you've mentioned were specialist keepers.

As it is injury list is growing - Rohit,Dhawan,Hardik,Chahar & Bhuvi. Bumrah just back from injury.

[NPV]

Even 347 wasn't enough for India to win, a great chase by New Zealand and credit to Ross Taylor for taking it to the finish. They won despite not having Kane Williamson in the playing 11 today. Hope the Indian team comes back in the next match.

This was New Zealand's highest winning chase against India.

[ninjatalli]

Excellent comeback by the NZ team - they kept their cool for the first 30 overs; and accelerated in the next 20! Ross & Latham nearly took it to the end on their own.

Am I the only one who thinks Ross Taylor looks a lot like Kal Penn (ref: Harold & Kumar)?

[landcruiser123]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Respectfully disagree. These are professional cricketers who are tough cookies. Also, if Dhoni/ Gilly/ Butler could do it for better part of a decade why not KL?

I'd look at it like how Sangakkara/ABd managed their workload. They gave up keeping in Tests to preserve their body. Crouching and getting up does result in fatigue. Irrespective of how fit you are, resistance to fatigue only comes from years practice. Rahul is too valuable a batsman- I'd like to see Pant (or Samson) back in the side.

Originally Posted by NPV

Even 347 wasn't enough for India to win, a great chase by New Zealand and credit to Ross Taylor for taking it to the finish. They won despite not having Kane Williamson in the playing 11 today. Hope the Indian team comes back in the next match.
This was New Zealand's highest winning chase against India.

I think Kuldeep Yadav strategy needs a look into. I'd play Chahal or even Washington Sundar ahead of him in limited over games.

[vibbs]

Indian bowlers had a bad day. One can question the team selection, but I think it happens. New Zealand played really well to chase this down.

What intrigues me is why not get Jadhav to Bowl?

I dont see the point in making him bat at 6 and play him only for his batting.

Ofcourse he could have gone for some runs but why not use all your resources specially when your bowlers are being hit around the park.

[sridhu]

I think India has enough resources to play a "best in class" strategy.

Why not play 5 batsmen, 1 wicketkeeper who can bat, 1 all rounder, 3 seamers & 1 spinner in LOI? You might lose the odd match but you will always have a wicket taking option. The allrounder can be a seamer or spinner depending on the track.

This "what if" team selection is very defensive.

Accordingly, I would pick
1. Rohit
2. Rahul
3. Kohli
4. Iyer
5. Pandey
6. Samson/ Saha
7. Pandiya/ Jadeja
8. Shami
9. Bumrah
10. Saini/ Bhuvi/ Shardul
11. Chahal

[harry10]

Originally Posted by PPS

Pant has to be the keeper in 50 over cricket.
Doesn't make sense for Rahul to keep wickets in the 50 over format. You wouldn't want one of your better T20 player over-exhausted & fatigued going into the T20 WC later this year!

I agree. But our Captain and coach have a tendency of jumping there guns. Just because Rahul kept well in T20 doesn't means his body will tolerate 50 overs keeping along with batting too.

Kuldeep is burned out, after that IPL thrashing he hasn't been the same bowler and needs to go back to domestic to sort himself out. Chahal should always be preferred over him.

Few players shouldn't even be in our squad like Dube who isn't good with anything at this level, Washington sundar who can't spin the ball even on spinning tracks and his batting isn't good for international level. Manish Pandey should play instead of Kedar who won't get opportunity to bowl under Kohli. Saini should always play over Thakur. Bad bowling and fielding made sure even 347 wasn't defendable. If there aren't proper changes we may need to make 450 next time to defend.