Indian ODI team - buidling to WC in Aus

[shankycricket]

Rishi Dhawan would be the better bit and pieces pace All rounder anyway even Irfan Pathan isn't a bad shout if he is fit.

absolutely, Rishi is a better batter and a far better bowler. If we could get Irfan back and firing that would be fantastic, but I've pretty much given up on that happening.

Not sure what even a "fit and firing" Irfan would offer tbh. We're talking about Irfan Pathan, not Mitchell Johnson.. I wouldn't pick any of those "allrounders". Pick proper seamers. Bhuvi and our spinners can provide the lower order batting.

[shankycricket]

I would prefer Binny to Irfan Pathan, if given a choice. At least Binny can bat.

[Red Devil]

I would prefer Binny to Irfan Pathan, if given a choice. At least Binny can bat.

Oh come on - that's ridiculous.

[dan08]

I would prefer Binny to Irfan Pathan, if given a choice. At least Binny can bat.

Oh come on - that's ridiculous.

Binny is definitely better than Irfan at this moment in time.

[braveneutral]

I would prefer Binny to Irfan Pathan, if given a choice. At least Binny can bat.

Oh come on - that's ridiculous.

[shankycricket]

I would prefer Binny to Irfan Pathan, if given a choice. At least Binny can bat.

Oh come on - that's ridiculous.

Really? I've never understood the Irfan hype. Medium pace trundler and his batting has gone downhill. Doesn't even get a game for his IPL side nowadays. Hasn't played proper FC cricket for ages. I don't rate Binny at all and he won't be in my 30 either but he did play a decent inns for India in the 1st Test in Eng, that alone is enough to make him a better choice than Irfan at this moment in time.

[Dr Cricket]

I suspect people can never forget his initial success and the fact he never fulfilled his potential.
I do blame Greg Chappell for his failure though not sure why he was talked up as an all rounder or the next Kapil Dev india were always trying to make I Pathan to be the 5th bowling option at number 7, Not gonna lie I never saw anything special in Irfan Pathan batting, I remember him being a number 10 in his first test match and he only really got promoted after he scored 50s at number 8-9 against Pak, Australia and then was india pinch hitter and was even a opener in a Test match where he nearly scored an Hundred against Sri lanka.
I always thought Irfan Pathan batting was similar to Shaun Pollock someone suited for number 8 and only really plays at number 7 when the team is forced to play an extra bowler.
I really hope B Kumar isn't forced to become an All Rounder because he can bat not sure why he can't bat at number 8 or 9 depending on the bowlers batting ability I would prefer if B kumar took wickets and a match winner with the ball then average 30-35 with the bat and be less effective with the ball.

Irfan Pathan performances clearly went down when he lost the ability to swing the ball and that was around the same time he was spending lots of time on his batting and india playing him all sorts of positions in ODI and Test Matches.

[shankycricket]

Even at his so called "best", he was good against the minnows, average against the rest. At no point in his career, was he even close to being a world class seamer unlike say a Zak. So all this talk of him walking into the side if he is "fit and firing" rather amuses me. Its not as we're talking about Zak, who was genuinely good for a period of time. Irfan is and was always overrated, largely thanks to our obsession with average allrounders and the search for the next Kapil Dev.

[Red Devil]

Even at his so called "best", he was good against the minnows, average against the rest. At no point in his career, was he even close to being a world class seamer unlike say a Zak. So all this talk of him walking into the side if he is "fit and firing" rather amuses me. Its not as we're talking about Zak, who was genuinely good for a period of time. Irfan is and was always overrated, largely thanks to our obsession with average allrounders and the search for the next Kapil Dev.

When he used to swing the ball he was a very useful bowler (hat-trick against Pak opening the bowling iirc would be one example), and his batting did improve to the extent that he opened the batting and did well. However, his bowling lost pace and also he lost his swing - so really not much use at all. If he got his swing back and was bowling low 80's then he should be back in the side, however I don't really see that happening so it's all a bit superflous BUT Binny should just never have been anywhere near the side - ever.

[Dr Cricket]

Red Devil would you say his batting played a part on his bowling going downhill and *modded*.

[Red Devil]

Red Devil would you say his batting played a part on his bowling going downhill and *modded*.

not really, these guys are full time cricketers so they should be able to fit in time to work on both their batting and their bowling! I think it was more the injuries and having to be used as one of three main seamers on flat wickets - when perhaps he was a 4th seamer who could be a handful with the old ball reversing or the new ball in helpful conditions.

[Dr Cricket]

India needs a new keeper, Dhoni keeping dreadful today needs a rest.

[Red Devil]

India needs a new keeper, Dhoni keeping dreadful today needs a rest.

naman ojha should be given a go, maybe sanju samson for the shorter formats - time must be coming for Dhoni soon

[Dr Cricket]

Just thinking about it India really needs to drop one of Ashwin/Jadeja from the World Cup Squad if india wants to pick a leggie for the world cup and still have enough seam bowlers in the squad.

Rahane
Dhawan
Kohli
Rohit
Raina
Dhoni
Jadeja
Ashwin
B kumar
Shami
Ishant/Mohit Sharma

Likely 1st team

the bench
Samson (Keeper batsman)
Rayudu/Jadav
Karn Sharma
Ishant Sharma/Mohit Sharma

If they go with Karn sharma and the extra batsman then india would only have 4 seam bowlers in the squad and 3 spinners.
if they go with Karn sharma and 5 seam bowlers in the squad then india would only have 8 batsman in the squad and india would be force to pick the same batsman even if they fail in Australian conditions.

I really want a leggie in the world cup but having one and getting the right squad balance is difficult.

[Dr Cricket]

Just to be clear that won't necessarily be the team I would choose, but the one likely to be selected against Pakistan in Adelaide.