***Official*** India in South Africa

[adharcric]

Regional bias may explain Jaffer's inclusion. Of the Mumbaikars, Zaheer for Agarkar is a straight swap. Powar is out and now Jaffer is in.
Perhaps the pro-Kumble folks and the Mumbai folks compromised and Powar was the victim ...

 

[viktor]

So, the politics is being played within the Mumbai zone then? Since one Mumbai player was dropped for no fault of his?

If you are into conspiracy theories, try this one for size:
Vengsarkar still holds a grudge against the North Zone lobby for (alleged) mistreatment of West Zone players during his playing days (the late 80s). Maybe they are the reason he didn't get to captain India more than he did. May be he blames them for ruining certain other Mumbai players' careers. And that is why he is dead against any NZone players. Watch how, pretty soon Baldie goes out, followed by Bhajji and then Yuvraj. He will then work his way down in to UP, may be Baroda, and will then get into the South Zone, no reason, just for kicks....

If it was just a question of making up a sufficient number of people from Mumbai, then both Powar and Kumble could have made the trip with Powar as an all-rounder. And not many would have raised their eye-brows at that.
IMO, we should give the selectors the BOD on this one. Their choice of player may be flawed but I think their intentions were quite above board.

 

[adharcric]

By no means am I accusing Vengsarkar and co. of regional bias, but it remains a possibility because of Jaffer's poor one-day record and Gambhir and Uthappa's current form.
Vengsarkar's explanation makes some sense as Jaffer has the technique to play on seaming pitches.
Let's see how this "experiment" works out and if it even matters in the end.

 

[honestbharani]

u are probably right....but karthick or P.Patel can't really hit more than 20 or 30 runs. Both have had scores of more than 50 on a few occasions but they never look like doing more .They are never players that can take us out of a tight situation. They can only add to a well established score. IMO Dhoni is better than that and definitely better than karthick or patel. I guess he hasn't performed in tests but i think that he needs to be kept in the side for a bit longer.....that being said, if the selectors can find a wicket-keeper that is a better player than karthick or p. Patel, then they should give him a go!

Who told u Kaarthick cannot score more than 20-30? And how much do you think Dhoni is gonna manage over there anyway?

 

[honestbharani]

Indian XI in my opinion..

Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Y.Singh
Dhoni +
Pathan
H.Singh
Sreesanth
Patel

obviously if they wanted khan or kumble in they would have to consider dropping yuvraj most probable...i wouldnt mind seeing kumble, which i reckon the selectors might go for a 5th pick rather than 4 seamers.. because he has the experience and his bowling style works on the s.african pitches ..if pathan was out of form khan would most likely make way for him..

As for the Karthick - Dhoni discussion.. imo dhoni should continue keeping the tests.. its still to early too lay a verdict on him.. he needs more exposure and time and i reckon he has the talent to play the sort of role gilly plays for aus...just needs to work on his technique for batting on non flat pitches and glovework..

First of all, Gilly does not PLAY a role in the Aussie side. Before Gilly, this role that everyone is talking about did not exist. He CREATED that role and therefore, he is probably the only one in the world who can fill that. India (and other teams, for that matter) will be best served if they can go back to the way they viewed keepers pre-Gilly and try and make do with that. The guy is a once in a lifetime player and searching for him will only result in us wasting the existing keepers.

 

[honestbharani]

I am guessing Kaarthick could make a better ODI batter than Kaif as far as playing in the lower middle order is concerned. Perhaps he may make a better option than even Raina. What about playing Dhoni as a specialist batter in the side?

 

[Arjun]

There are some issues with the selection, but it's by no means dreadful. Powar has done nothing to deserve this, but Kumble is the experienced match-winner for India and if he's going to be needed for the World Cup you really ought to bring him back now so he has time to get settled in. The real problem was when the selectors kept persisting with a dreadful Murali Kartik over Powar; regardless, I can see Powar returning after the World Cup.

I do agree, there's something valid behind Kumble's recall, but to drop Powar when Harbhajan isn't striking with ball or bat was baffling. He wasn't even taking wickets, but saving his economy rate, when the situation demanded otherwise. We hear these critics often slamming Chappell and Dravid (but not that ex-flyboy manager) for promoting Irfan Pathan and making an all-rounder out of him. With Powar in the XI, the batting load on Irfan is reduced and both can merely strike the ball when they come out, and you can stay with five bowlers. With Powar gone, the chances of five bowlers in the team will be grim, and so will the Indians' chances of repeating their success against SL, Pak and England earlier.

They've picked Dinesh Karthik because it's a foreign tour and you need insurance. I wouldn't do it because I don't see Dhoni getting injured, but if the selectors feel like it I can't blame them too much.

That's something you don't need to do. No other team with a wicketkeeper-batsman is begging for a decent reserve. You don't see Brad Haddin making the Aussie squad unless it's some exhibition tournament. Looking at the reserve picked, if Dhoni's injured, the team is at a big loss.

As for VRV Singh, he's fifth in line and likely won't get any playing time, but again it's for insurance. We may play four seamers on occasion so there's nothing wrong with having five in the squad.

He's only been picked as cover for the injured Agarkar, but he's likely to get injured sometime. He's never looked match-fit. His performances even at domestic level have been pathetic, and since he's been touted as a fast bowler, he's only bowled medium-pace. Value-added bowlers can do just as much.

The only thing I don't like about the selection is the inclusion of Jaffer over Gambhir. Jaffer has accomplished absolutely nothing in one-day cricket, while Gambhir has done a lot and is in fine form at the moment. He's done everything asked of him by the selectors on the domestic and A-level circuits and still hasn't gotten his spot. That said, if he returns to the test side justice will be served somewhat.

That blooper takes the mud cake. Jaffer's spurts of aggression in Duleep may have caught the selectors' attention, but Gambhir was clearly the better opener on show. He crossed 70 on both occasions and scored quickly, more in singles than in boundaries. He's also a significantly better fielder in all places. What the selectors don't like about him and Powar, we don't know. While many may complain abotu Chappell's intention of taking the team forward, the exclusion of Gambhir, Powar, Joginder and Yadav and the inclusion of Mongia, Karthik, Jaffer, VRV and a half-fit Agarkar and at least five liabilities on the field is clearly a massive step backwards. And the arrogant Aussie is not responsible.

 

[Nishant]

IMO this is pretty much what our World Cup squad will look like, keeping Agarkar and Yuvraj in and bringing in Gambhir for Jaffer.

if jaffer does perform, then i'd like to see him in the team. Anyway, im quite happy to see Zaheer back into the team! He has been bowling well in the county circuit and fully deserves to play. In the first ODI id like to see pathan dropped; perhaps a Agarkar-Munaf-Sreesanth-Zaheer-Bhaji combination in the bowling department.

 

[neutralguy]

[/QUOTE]That blooper takes the mud cake. Jaffer's spurts of aggression in Duleep may have caught the selectors' attention, but Gambhir was clearly the better opener on show. He crossed 70 on both occasions and scored quickly, more in singles than in boundaries. He's also a significantly better fielder in all places. What the selectors don't like about him and Powar, we don't know. While many may complain abotu Chappell's intention of taking the team forward, the exclusion of Gambhir, Powar, Joginder and Yadav and the inclusion of Mongia, Karthik, Jaffer, VRV and a half-fit Agarkar and at least five liabilities on the field is clearly a massive step backwards. And the arrogant Aussie is not responsible.[/QUOTE] I think gambhirs habit of throwing his wicket by playing a rash shot, when well set in his 20's is the major factor going against him. I think in the last few matches which he played for india, this seems to happen regularly.So i would like to assume that the selection committee thought about this and hence gave jaffar a break.

 

[adharcric]

Gambhir was dropped because he was throwing away starts. The selectors wanted to see him play longer innings and he did just that for India A, India Reds and North Zone.
He did everything he was asked to do and he's still left out for an ODI misfit like Jaffer. I hope Jaffer does well, but at this point in time this is a bad move.

 

[rpm15]

Not under Chappell

India is not going to win the World Cup under G. Chappell and it is a known fact too. Chappell thinks he can make India win the world Cup without Ganguly and this is already proved in the Champions Trophy as India did not even enter into the semi-finals.Bring back Ganguly immediately! Sehwag does not perform while Tendulkar comes back and this is a certain fact. Raina does not deserve a place in the team. Pathan is underperforming-give him rest, the running between wickets is horrible. Let's give a message to Greg Chappell-"Bring back Ganguly- or lose the World Cup?" It's your choice.Let's face it.

 

[Arjun]

Now VVS Laxman is disappointed at being left out. Fair point, since he's got the ability to build a long innings, and none of the batsmen, bar Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid and maybe Yuvraj have. Moreover, his slip-fielding is the best in the team, and while he's not too good on the outfield, nor is Dinesh Mongia. The selection of Mongia over Laxman is another blooper that shows the enemy is not from Down Under, but from within. What say, Laxman not match-fit? Mongia himself doesn't look match-fit, nor do Agarkar and VR Singh!

 

[Dravid]

Selecting Wasim Jaffer for the one day squad was probably the dumbest thing the selectors could do. The world cup is 5 months away, that's a long time in real life, but in Cricket terms, that's like 5 weeks. You won't play that much Cricket in 5 months that you can get any batsman settled in at anytime during those 5 months. It's pretty obvious Jaffer won't play in the World Cup(and if the selectors do prove me wrong and select him, then god help India) then whats the point of bringing him in to the squad?

If you don't want to bring in Gambhir, okay fine then. Why Jaffer? The guy has never played a ODI match, can't play quick if his life depended on it. Then why? If you think Gambhir is a bad choice to pick then pick Laxman. The man isn't the best of ODI batsman but can be very useful in the middle order because he is another batsman who can stick at wicket, along with scoring runs. If you put Jaffer out there he will only stick to the wicket, score barely any runs.

Jaffer is a batsman for the slower version of the game. It would be really smart to put him in the Test squad, but it's really dumb that they put him in the ODI squad.

 

[adharcric]

India is not going to win the World Cup under G. Chappell and it is a known fact too. Chappell thinks he can make India win the world Cup without Ganguly and this is already proved in the Champions Trophy as India did not even enter into the semi-finals.Bring back Ganguly immediately! Sehwag does not perform while Tendulkar comes back and this is a certain fact. Raina does not deserve a place in the team. Pathan is underperforming-give him rest, the running between wickets is horrible. Let's give a message to Greg Chappell-"Bring back Ganguly- or lose the World Cup?" It's your choice.Let's face it.

Ganguly can't even score runs for East Zone right now. Please refrain from giving advice to the Indian team or we might end up in even deeper ****.

 

[adharcric]

Now VVS Laxman is disappointed at being left out. Fair point, since he's got the ability to build a long innings, and none of the batsmen, bar Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid and maybe Yuvraj have. Moreover, his slip-fielding is the best in the team, and while he's not too good on the outfield, nor is Dinesh Mongia. The selection of Mongia over Laxman is another blooper that shows the enemy is not from Down Under, but from within. What say, Laxman not match-fit? Mongia himself doesn't look match-fit, nor do Agarkar and VR Singh!

First of all, Mongia is pretty good in the field and is a very handy bowler. Agarkar has been one of our best bowlers this past season and a very good outfielder but he might miss some action now. VRV Singh is irrelevant to VVS Laxman.

Now, I agree that Laxman should get a recall especially if Yuvraj proves to be out for a long period. We need a middle-order stalwart to give company to Dravid. Mongia, Raina and Kaif are at best middle-order support acts right now. They should remain in the squad, but Laxman should be brought in after the tour of South Africa. Let's hope he doesn't pull a stinker in the tests and screw himself over.

 

[Dravid]

India is not going to win the World Cup under G. Chappell and it is a known fact too. Chappell thinks he can make India win the world Cup without Ganguly and this is already proved in the Champions Trophy as India did not even enter into the semi-finals.Bring back Ganguly immediately! Sehwag does not perform while Tendulkar comes back and this is a certain fact. Raina does not deserve a place in the team. Pathan is underperforming-give him rest, the running between wickets is horrible. Let's give a message to Greg Chappell-"Bring back Ganguly- or lose the World Cup?" It's your choice.Let's face it.

I'm really sick of you and all the other Indian fans that keep on saying bring back Ganguly, or keep on failing. I only have one thing to tell you. Follow Domestic Cricket!!

 

[adharcric]

Selecting Wasim Jaffer for the one day squad was probably the dumbest thing the selectors could do. The world cup is 5 months away, that's a long time in real life, but in Cricket terms, that's like 5 weeks. You won't play that much Cricket in 5 months that you can get any batsman settled in at anytime during those 5 months. It's pretty obvious Jaffer won't play in the World Cup(and if the selectors do prove me wrong and select him, then god help India) then whats the point of bringing him in to the squad?

If you don't want to bring in Gambhir, okay fine then. Why Jaffer? The guy has never played a ODI match, can't play quick if his life depended on it. Then why? If you think Gambhir is a bad choice to pick then pick Laxman. The man isn't the best of ODI batsman but can be very useful in the middle order because he is another batsman who can stick at wicket, along with scoring runs. If you put Jaffer out there he will only stick to the wicket, score barely any runs.

Jaffer is a batsman for the slower version of the game. It would be really smart to put him in the Test squad, but it's really dumb that they put him in the ODI squad.

Jaffer is the wrong choice but his batting is similar to Laxman's in a sense. There is a chance that he may succeed.
Let's wait for him to fail before criticizing the selection any further. You've got to feel for Gambhir though. He's been treated like **** by the selectors for a long time now.

 

[Dravid]

Jaffer is the wrong choice but his batting is similar to Laxman's in a sense. There is a chance that he may succeed.
Let's wait for him to fail before criticizing the selection any further. You've got to feel for Gambhir though. He's been treated like **** by the selectors for a long time now.

I feel for Jaffer who's going to be the next victim of the Indian media after he fails. The Indian media doesn't leave anyone alone

 

[adharcric]

I'm pretty worried about Yuvraj Singh right now. Some reports suggest he may miss the World Cup if he requires surgery on his knee. That would be an enormous blow for us. After years of being a talented batsman with unfulfilled potential, he was finally turning into a premier middle-order batsman. Laxman must be brought back if Yuvraj indeed misses out.

 

[Dravid]

Indian superstars get injured as often as Shane Bond. Seriously.