India One-Day Squad Evaluation (Chappell-Dravid Era)

[adharcric]

Now that we've seen two full series with Dravid as permanent captain, Chappell as coach, Tendulkar back and Ganguly out, it's a good time to evaluate how the various players have performed. Here's a brief glance:

Virender Sehwag (36 bat, 35 ball): He's playing classy strokes all the time but failing to convert the starts. He was really timing the ball well yesterday but Harper's poor decision ruined an opportunity for a big one. Playing at #3 or #4 might be helping Sehwag. He's also become a useful part-time bowler, far from an all-rounder though.
Grade: B

Sachin Tendulkar (30 bat): Evidently, he still can play at a high level as seen by some of his strokeplay yesterday and in the first two matches of the Sri Lanka series. It seems like he's trying too hard to build a steady innings at times and not playing his natural game. Yesterday he did well, but Ashwell Prince was remarkable in the field. His presence in the team provides a boost as he's playing the mentor role to the youngsters in the team.
Grade: B-

Rahul Dravid (83 bat): Dravid has been the classic example of leading from the front. He's anchored the innings on several occasions and at times guided an attacking batsman at the other end (Dhoni, Yuvraj). He's made bold and creative moves on the field, using the powerplays, frequently changing bowlers, encouraging his players. It sure seems like he has the respect of Chappell as well, and that's very good to know.
Grade: A+

Yuvraj Singh (48 bat): Yuvraj is finally maturing into a formidable batsman capable of playing the big innings. Furthermore, he's rescued India on several occassions where the pressure has been immense. Yuvraj has been brilliant in the field as usual, and now he has secured his spot with the willow as well. He started off poorly in Sri Lanka, but now he's in top form, timing the ball sweetly for some glorious drives.
Grade: A-

Mohammad Kaif (38 bat): Returning from injury, he will help India greatly if he can continue the great form that he displayed in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Brilliant in the field and a gutsy batsman just like Yuvraj, he has been a valuable member of this one-day outfit. Needs to improve his ability to take singles, because his running between the wickets is very good.
Grade: B+

Gautam Gambhir (30 bat): Has shown that he can be a dangerous one-day batsman, but he needs to make a few more big scores to validate that. With the SuperSub rule in place, he will get opportunities to prove his mettle in the one-day game.
Grade: C+

Suresh Raina: Well, he hasn't exactly gotten too many opportunities to bat, but his partnership with Dhoni in the run-chase vs SL was impressive. Can outclass both Kaif and Yuvi in the field, loads of potential but he's behind Gambhir on the depth chart. Very young at the moment.
Grade: B

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (65 bat): Emerged as a destructive batsman during the Sri Lanka series, proving that the ton versus Pakistan was no fluke. He is unbelievable when on song, but he needs to get more experience against top-quality pace attacks, he wasnt so comfortable against the likes of Andre Nel and Charl Langevelt. His keeping has improved and is not a big worry at the moment, but he needs to keep working at it because he will be keeping to Kumble now in tests.
Grade: A

Irfan Pathan (34 bat, 24 ball): Perhaps he isn't a genuine "all-rounder" yet, but he's certainly done a damn good job with both bat and ball thus far. He's bowled some fiery spells, but he needs to eliminate the wayward bowling which arises once every five matches (0/67 vs SL, 0/51 vs SA) and should look to bowl at least 135 kmph to develop into a lethal weapon in India's new-ball attack
Grade: A

Ajit Agarkar (28 balll): He has taken loads of wickets and bowled some excellent spells, but he's also bowled some wayward ones and thus been quite expensive (econ ~5.5). If he can't bowl a good line consistently, he'll face stiff competition from Zaheer, VRV, Munaf, Nehra, Sreesanth and co. His batting is nothing to rave about now, but if he can bowl consistently for India, that will be plenty.
Grade: B

Rudra Pratap Singh (23 ball): He's been economical and dangerous at the same time, especially in the Sri Lanka series. Like every other Indian seamer, he needs to eliminate the wayward deliveries completely. Looks good for the Indian pace attack. Solid in the field as well.
Grade: B+

Sree Santh (49 ball): This guy's got talent but he's sprayed the ball all over versus Sri Lanka. Still remains a bright prospect for India alongside Munaf Patel and VRV Singh.
Grade: C-


Jai Prakash Yadav: Hasn't gotten enough opportunities and might not get too many because of the SuperSub rule and Pathan's emergence as a potent contributor with the bat. In the time he did get, bowled a tight line but at times tried out too much and in the process got hammered for runs. Still could be valuable, but the management needs to figure out what exactly they want from him.
Grade: C

Harbhajan Singh (37 bat, 31 ball): It looks like Bhajji is nearly back to his best. He's been extremely economical (~3.5 rpo) and is finally picking up wickets after a poor stretch over the recent months. Turning into some kind of multi-faceted player, displaying his explosiveness with the bat as a tailender and his agility in the field (that catch yesterday ...).
Grade: A-

Murali Kartik (53 ball): Kartik is an exaggerated version of India's inconsistent pace bowlers. He has bowled some very good spells, like the 10-0-16-0 vs SA, but he's been butchered at times as well. He'll probably be preferred to Kumble for now, but there are guys like Chawla, Powar and Mishra ready to challenge him for a spot.
Grade: C+

What do you all think?

 

[honestbharani]

I think you have hit the ratings right. I tend to agree with almost all of your ratings.

 

[Arjun]

These ratings are a little too harsh on the seamers. Frankly, accuracy isn't the only thing that matters, and even if it does, it has to last long. Moreover, these bowlers are risk-takers, who strive hard for that extra wicket. Naturally, they'll end up bowling a little rubbish. Most Indian pacers are underpowered (Agarkar, Sreesanth), so it shows up. Sreesanth has pace, so he should look to attack the batsmen with power and push them on the back foot. RP Singh, however, can do well as a steady line-and-length bowler, though he too can work up more than a little pace. VR Singh's injury is a concern, though. Anyway, Agarkar is not indispensable, nor can he make much of an impact, so the selectors can look for someone with more power. Or better yet, genuine batting ability.

They don't want Irfan to play as an all-rounder. They don't consider Sehwag or Yuvraj as all-rounders. They often feel the pinch of lacking an all-rounder. The selectors tried their best to solve that problem by considering at least five contenders (wicketkeepers not counted) and got JP Yadav, a proven all-rounder who's a frontliner with bat and ball (he opens the bowling) for his team. And what do those fools who call themselves the team management do? Play him as a stupid-sub bowler, or see to it that he never gets a chance to bat. And when he bowls, he's brought on second-change, and the fields are spread out. After a few overs, he gets taken off. Given the team's all-rounder weakness, the way this man has been treated is pathetic. Worse, they brought back Ganguly as an all-rounder, when clearly, he doesn't fit the bill and has just pretended to be one to get his place back in the side.

It's good to see Yuvraj playing as a full-fledged batsman and not a mere finisher. It's definitely worth the risk, since he now has to try a lot harder, and develop newer skills. He should look to build innings of over 100 more often, since that suits him better than mere cameos at the end of an innings- let that go to a non-batsman. A lot of fans don't seem to support Mohammed Kaif since he lacks power, but he can build partnerships, and that's a very vital aspect of a batting side in ODI's.

A little too much is being made of the South African pace attack. Pollock is definitely world-class, but the rest are not. Ntini is just bull-headed and fiery, and he can be taken for more than a few runs. Nel's an extreme version, and on a bad day, he's a target for lots of runs. Langeveldt's rather accurate and is quite effective in the final overs, but nothing out of the ordinary. The rest are just plain average. Dhoni's very much a hitter and not one you would expect to score a big innings. His main strength is the knockout punch act, and he should build on that. Let Tendulkar, Dravid, Kaif and Yuvraj build long innings. Gambhir deserves an extended run, since he forms a good partnership with the other batsman, especially Sehwag. The more active cricket he plays, the better for him and the team.

There have to be more spin options. Kumble was your #1 spinner, but he's not in the scheme of things any more. Karthik isn't far better than the spin-bowling all-rounders the selectors have been observing, and his fielding isn't much to write home about (less said of his batting, the better). This is clearly a case of artificial scarcity created by some important people in the BCCI. The missing link has to be plugged- a stock bowler who can come in at seven/eight and hit big shots, mostly in the final overs- maybe then fans will stop knocking Kaif and Yuvraj, but more importantly, that can capitalise on partnerships built before in the innings. They need to give JP Yadav a more central role in the side, or look at Munaf Patel or Yusuf Pathan.

 

[Jono]

I'm starting to think that Kartik has to go soon as well. He's shown bits of excellence, but he's far too inconsistent. Surely a player like Powar who can also bat would be a better option? Its not like Kartik is a strike bowler, who bleeds runs but picks up 2 and 3 wickets per match. He's just giving runs away with the odd wicket or two every 2 matches. Yes he has been poorly handled by Ganguly in the past, but I don't think he's at international level IMO.

 

[cricketboy29]

i think so, because atm, kartik like you said, jono, a little bit of brillance, and then rubbish, so if we can get someone who can do that, and bat better than him, then why not?

 

[magsi23]

To be honest i dont think couple of months count as an era?

 

[Googenheim]

Kartik has to go.

Hes not upto the challenge of international cricket.

Whatever happened to Mishra, the leggie ? Hows he doing at the domestic level ?

 

[adharcric]

To be honest i dont think couple of months count as an era?

I didn't classify it as an era, just as the early stages of an era. This is an evaluation of how the players have done thus far under the new regime.

 

[adharcric]

Kartik has to go.

Hes not upto the challenge of international cricket.

Whatever happened to Mishra, the leggie ? Hows he doing at the domestic level ?

Mishra and Parida picked up tons of wickets against SL playing for BP XI recently. I would say, apart from Harbhajan (solid), Kartik (inconsistent), Kumble (test-exclusive now), the top 5 spin options are Powar, Mishra, Parida, Y.Pathan(all-rounder), R.Pawar(all-rounder). Then there are the two young prospects, Piyush Chawla and Shanbaz Nadeem. I'm getting increasingly frustrated about Powar not getting an opportunity, I'm sure he would help more than Kartik.

 

[DaBombayDuck]

MUrali Kartik is an average bowler IMHO.

Seriously, the time has come I think to give Amit Mishra another go in the India jersey (both test and ODI).

 

[Anil]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/228073.html

interesting article on the top run chasers in one day cricket over the past 4 years....