Its just 2 years for The World Cup!

In The Biopic of MS Dhoni, there is a scene where a selector is saying to MS that "There is 3 Years for the World Cup" and he replies to them as "There is just 3 Years for the World Cup sir". This is just a dialogue, but the 'just' he uses is in his reply has got a significant meaning.Even though the media burned him, The Preparations he did from that series had a great impact in the World Cup.The 4 years before the World Cup is very crucial, especially last 2. 

Indian Cricket is going through a face where "The Vice Captain of Test Cricket Team is not a permanent member in ODI cricket and the Vice Captain of ODI Team is not a permanent member of Test Team". That shows the Bench Strength of Indian Team,that much amount of young cricketing talents we are producing in our Cricket. Yes! It is good to have different team for 3 formats, rotation is a good process too. But the fact is Cricket's biggest event is nearby and now it is the time to set the team ready for next World Cup. We know the after effect of Chappell's theory  "Changing the Batting Order, just 4 months Before the World Cup". So we should not do the same mistake again. So its the time to eye the World Cup. We have to set the team, we have to give them exposure, have to get tested and The 15 member squad who flies to England in 2019 for the World Cup should apply all the experiences they had in the field. Its the time to build the Core XI.

Tomorrow India is set to face Aussies at home and As a Cricket Fan, I have 3 questions to the selectors and Virat:

1) Jadeja replaced injured Axar Patel! Is Jadeja a second choice in One Day? Do Ashwin and Jadeja have a role in ODI? Are they reserved for the Tests only?  

2) Is MS Dhoni still a Finisher?

3) Is KL Rahul, still considered as a Middle Order Batsman or What is the Purpose of having 4 Openers in the Side?

First Question is Crucial. India always had a great spinners and the legacy is still continuing. But it is a fact that in England every team play with one spinner and some teams like Pakistan playing 4 seamers(Champions Trophy 2017). So it is sure that India won't play 3 spinners there as they do in home. Playing 2 spinners itself is a dilemma. In current Scenario, India will play 5 lead Bowlers, including Hardik Pandya as the 3rd pacer. But like the champions trophy final, there will be situations where the captain have the overhead of finding the 6th bowler who can bowl when one of the bowler is injured or not performing well. In the context of cricket, there should be 5 reliable bowlers in the side,along with part timers. But we have to ensure the batting depth too. That is in these 5 bowlers or tailenders atleast 2-3 has to bat decently. 

PHOTO COURTESY:CRICKBUZZ

Ashwin,Jadeja,Kuldeep,Axar,Mishra,Chahal, we can depend on Ash and Jaddu more as a batsmen. So keeping in mind this fact , Jaddu or Ashwin or both should play the World cup 2019. I know there is no contradiction to this fact, but as the both lead spinners having a bad patch post 2015, we should give them time to adapt. Next year, India is having majority of matches at overseas conditions which doesn't suit for spinners. So before going there, these bowlers should reagin the confidence they lost in the limited overs. This Australian series , against Warner, Steve Smith, Maxwell and all , was a great oppurtunity to regain the pride they had in Champions trophy and all.

The stats show that the other guys had their best post 2015, comparing to Jaddu and Ash. But Don't forget the fact that Except for Rashid ,England Pitches always prefered Wrist Spinners, not finger spinners like Axar. So both  Ash and Jaddu, who were the 3rd and 5th leading wicket takers respectively from the period 2011-15, knows these pitches well.They won the champions trophy here. One bad series or tournament doesn't fade the Champion spirit they have. Champion Bowlers are asset to the team , so its high time for Kohli to have both or any one tested. The time we lose means lesser chances to win the cup, so set the bowling combinations as soon as possible.

Second Question is the one everyone is looking for. In Which position they can see their Favourite 'Iceman"

bat. Despite having a good record at every position he bats, considering the age he should bat up as he lost the old hitting skills. But That night at Srilanka, when Dananjaya was doing a 'Mendis', the same man who fought Ajantha 9 years before in the Asia cup led the battle against Akhila too.He batted calmly, just showing his haters that Finishing is not just hitting. The temparment and the fighting spirit matters alot. He repeated same in the 3rd One day too. Anyone can hit at a batting track, but the batting really  matters when someone dominates like Dananjaya did in the 2nd ODI. Reading the situation is some quality that keeps MSD different from others. He like situations where half of the team is in the pavillion and he has to wait till the end. Win or lose, he make sure the game is not over till the last ball. So He has to bat at No.5 or 6. Unlike the old hairy Dhoni, this aged Dhoni takes time to settle, so it is better for him to bat at no.5. But playing both Rahul and Pandya like Kohli did in 4th One day against srilanka will push the Old Lion again to the business he is famous for, finishing things in style. Again here we shouldn't forget the fact that in both the matches required rate was less. Scenario won't be same against other teams. So considering the strike rate now, Dhoni at 5, Jadhav or Raina at 6, Pandya or Jadeja at 7. Since Ashwin and Bhuvi can also bat, the depth can be ensured too.

 

According to me,Its high to time to see Manish Pandey constant at no.4 or 5.He deserves to be the permanent member in the team. He have all the qualities of a ODI Batsman, still he can't find a Permanent spot in the team. I don't know the reason. We don't have any doubt in Rahul's Batting skills , but I don't know wheather he can be that effective in ODI, especially at no.4. He is more good as an opener. Since Rohit and Dhawan playing like this as well Rahane in the bench I don't feel he would be considered as an opener.And at no.4 or 5 Players like Pandey and all are waiting too. Pandey and Rahul are similar like players in approach. They start slow at a decent pace,rotate the strike and also has the ability to hit. Considering at no.4 reliability and consistency should be the factors to Pick and I think Pandey suits more. In the current team apart at no.4 there is no position where we can afford KL Rahul. Keeping that in mind, it shhould be good to play Well Experienced Raina or Young Rishabh Pant.Even though Pant can act as second keeper, Raina would be a better choice as Experience matters in the tracks like England. Raina has got plenty of experience and he was the man of the series in 2013 England Tour. The Innings he played agianst Zimbabwe in last World Cup or the one he played against Austalia in 2011 WC Quarter Final are the classic examples of the Champion spirit Raina have.

The Bench has to be tested, should expose the young guns but series against Australia and all are real test before the big tournaments. So its better to Use the Core team and give them the big match experience. If these players out gets a call to the South Africa or England suddenly, they might feel tough to adapt. Therefore its better to test them here first and then fly. The series, which comes later against Srilanka at home and all are the place where we can test the young guns, giving the seniors rest. And since India playing lot of tests at overseas next year, its better to leave Test Experts like Rahul and all to play ranji or county as there are more options for him in the limited overs.

The amount of Cricket these players play an year is huge, surely they has to be rested but not against the big teams,because the experience they get when they face these teams are very high and they can use it at 2019 England World Cup. So its just 2 years for the biggest event, be ready with your Core XI

-RJ