With the top-order doing well, India has an excess of batting and must make way for a fast bowler
With the top-order doing well, India has an excess of batting and must make way for a fast bowler
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India has exposed a bit of leg; a glimpse of heel to be exact and while it's not of the Achilles variety, it's enough to encourage the better teams at the World Cup.
The way England systematically hauled in the massive target India set them in Bangalore will encourage not only Andrew Strauss' side but also Australia and South Africa. India has to quickly sort out the balance of their attack.
With the top order performing well, India has an excess of batting and they need to shed one to make way for a fast bowler. That would leave a balance of three seamers and two spinners.
My choice of batsman to miss out would be Gautam Gambhir. Virat Kohli can handle number three and he also gives you another seam-up bowling option and he's an excellent fielder.
The other choice would be Yusuf Pathan but he's too valuable as a late-order hitter and part-time spinner.
Yuvraj in form
India's need for an extra batsman has been reduced with the form Yuvraj Singh displayed in Bangalore.
However, he also proved he's only a part-time bowler against the better sides. He's a roller rather than a spinner and as such he's only a fill-in option for a few overs.
Now comes the big decision. Which extra fast bowler to include? Ashish Nehra is a wicket-taker. It's looking more and more like the teams with the most firepower and variety are going to have the best chance of lifting the trophy. Nehra is also more predictable than the highly erratic S Sreesanth, who is like a time bomb ticking.
Judging by Virender Sehwag's comment following the victory over Bangladesh: "We all played well, except Sreesanth," this will be a popular decision among the rank and file.
Pick Ashwin
That leaves one decision to be settled. Who is the second spinner? Piyush Chawla looked good against Australia but was too short too often against England. R Ashwin is a good competitor, in addition to being a wicket-taking off-spinner. India may have to shuffle between these two, depending on the opposition.
It's worth remembering that the Bangalore pitch was a good one and the ball appeared to skid on under the lights rather than take much turn.
India has the most imaginative captain at the tournament and the trick is to provide him with the best available attack. Achieve that aim and India can still show the opposition a clean pair of heels.
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