India’s selectors had a tough job on their hands when they sat down to pick the final World Cup squad yesterday. The Indian team is not the strongest at present and there were quite a few spots still up for grabs. And looking at the final 15 they have chosen, it is clear the selectors have gone for the safe option.
The majority of the side picks itself. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami were certainties in the side.
There was also a good chance of Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Akshar Patel making the cut, which they managed to do. But it’s the remaining three names which generated a lot of debate and this is where the selectors seem to have missed a trick.
They decided to stick with the out-of-form Shikhar Dhawan as the designated opener.
Granted, he did very well against Sri Lanka in the home series in November, scoring a century and two fifties, but those knocks seem from a different season looking at the way he has fared in the Test series in Australia, where the World Cup will be held.
Dhawan has not looked comfortable on pitches Down Under and it’s difficult to see him finding his rhythm anytime soon.
The one batsman who is on top of his game in Australia and could have been given an opportunity as a back-up opener, should Dhawan or Rohit Sharma fail, is Murali Vijay.
His footwork has been assured and he can score as quickly as any other Indian batsman.
You need players brimming with confidence at an event like the World Cup and India’s selectors have made a big mistake in keeping him out of the mix.
That there is space for Ambati Rayudu in the squad is baffling. He has been selected, apparently, for his wicketkeeping abilities and is there as a back-up for Dhoni. He did score a ton against Sri Lanka but his game still isn’t up to scratch.
Batting efforts on docile Indian wickets can’t be taken as a yardstick for a World Cup to be played on quick pitches. Vijay must be feeling aggrieved after losing his spot to these two batsmen.
Then there is the non-selection of fast bowler Varun Aaron. Here is the fastest bowler India has ever produced and he is not even in the mix for matches supposed to be played on wickets that will offer him some assistance.
He went for runs in the two Tests he played against Australia but his pace was in the high 140s (kph) and he troubled all batsmen. The selectors should have gone for his raw pace simply because if it works, that can seal a match.
However, the management has gone with the ‘all-round’ abilities of Stuart Binny.
He is less of an all-rounder and more of a bits-and-pieces cricketer. He only has one notable performance to his credit – a six-wicket haul on a treacherous surface against Bangladesh. And he hasn’t done anything worthwhile with the bat. In fact, Bhuvneshwar and Ashwin have proven to be far more reliable all-rounders.
By picking three players who are not on top of their game, and by omitting two who could have made a big impact, the management has reduced India’s chances of defending the World Cup.
It’s not necessarily a bad side, but could have been so much more.
