In few weeks from now, the new bunch of selectors will make their first selection for the Home Test Series to be played against England starting Nov 15, 2012. At this juncture, most of the players are busy honing their T20 skills in the Champions league. However some of them have expressed their interest to play in Ranji Trophy matches starting Nov 2, 2012, to warm up for the busy season ahead.
As everybody gear towards a new cricket season (by the way I still don’t know when the previous season ended) and an important one in Indian Cricket Calendar, it is time to rouse the selector in us to choose the best side that can represent India. How much our personal choice matches the national selection and subsequent nit picking has remained our tradition for years.
This time I pretty much know my personal selection will go South in comparison to national selection. Therefore I wish to divide Selection into two segments. The first would be my personal squad to represent India and second is the likely squad presented to us by the selectors. Obviously we all know selectors tend to do it politically correct without trying to hurt anybody in the hierarchy.
Here is my personal squad of 14 that includes 7 batsmen, 1 Wicketkeeper, 6 bowlers.
Dhoni loses captaincy, Kohli named new Captain. Gambir and Zaheer Axed!!!
Unmukt Chand
Ajinkya Rahane
Cheteshwar Pujara
Sachin Tendulkar
Virat Kohli (Captain)
Virender Sehwag
Yuvraj Singh
Dhoni (Wk)
Umesh Yadav
Ishant Sharma
Ashwin
Pragyan Ojha
Harmeet Singh
Irfan Pathan.
The overseas losses in England and Australia (Test and ODI’s), early exit in the Asia Cup and World T20, never ending dispute with Sehwag (Gambir included these days), dividing the team, bias towards certain sect of players has forced me to sack Dhoni from leadership.
In my preference for skipper, I would like to identify a candidate who is a sure starter in the side in all formats of the game with leadership abilities. I see Kohli fit the bill perfectly. If anybody think, he is not matured enough, I see him more than matured in the recent years both in attitude and cricket. I feel it is high time to offer him the top job in Indian Cricket and allow him to settle down. I’m not interested in separate captains for each format of the game at this juncture.
Patience to persist with Sehwag & Gambir has passed out and time has arrived to find new pair of openers for India. Who better than the latest sensation Unmukt Chand and Rahane (waiting in the wings for more than a year now)? Pujara, Tendulkar and Kohli take their position in the side by default. I wish to give Sehwag another life line in the form of middle order batsmen far he is only a made up opener all these years. I also wish to pass the opportunity to Yuvraj Singh first before exploring other prospects for a place in the middle order. However, I leave the decision to the captain to choose between Sehwag and Yuvraj for No.6. At this time, don’t see any other wicket keeper batsman capable than Dhoni to don the glove duty for India.
With regard to bowlers, I feel time has arrived to look beyond Zaheer Khan. Also Zaheer Khan has not done anything commending to hold on to his place. I would like to replace Zaheer Khan with Irfan Pathan, another deserving candidate from the same clan. That leaves Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma to fight between themselves for the role of second pacer. The reason for backing Pathan even in the XI ahead of both Yadav and Ishanth Sharma because the side is loaded with relatively in experienced batsman. So Irfan at No.8 would be very handy. Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha have not done anything bad to harm their places. Rather searching for nonexistent leg spinner, I wish to nurture young Harmeet Singh. The least his presence in the squad will be a learning curve.
I know the above is far from reality.
In the second segment, I wish to guess the squad that is likely to be presented to us by our national selectors.
Yuvraj and Harbhajan returns!!!
Sehwag
Gambir
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Yuvraj Singh
Badrinath
Dhoni (Captain)
Umesh Yadav
Zaheer Khan
Ishanth Sharma
Ashwin
Ojha
Harbhajan Singh
This is our first selection. We understand Dhoni is not having greatest of time as skipper. However he has not done anything wrong at home to lose his power. We know Sehwag and Gambir are little off color. But they both are too good to be out of form for a long time. Also you have to understand they are champion cricketers and they deserve a benefit of doubt. With respect to the middle order Yuvraj Singh makes a comeback in place of Suresh Raina. All pace bowlers picked themselves automatically. We do know that Zaheer Khan is under lot of fire, but he still the best in business for India. We think time has arrived to bring Harbhajan Singh back to Test Cricket. We wish to confirm that all that talks about rift between Sehwag and Dhoni are only rumors. We will try and win this series comprehensively.
Dinesh
Cricket Lover
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