subject: Well Done Team India, Congratulations! [print this page] Well Done Team India, Congratulations! Well Done Team India, Congratulations!
While many in India are more busy going "gaga" over the victory & defeats of somecountries, they hardly know, it was heartening to see India lift the Asia Cup after 15years! Some of the former captains of India had given the Sri Lankans the favourites tag,but I was sure the Indians would definately make it a match once they won against archrivals Pakistan, which perhaps was the match of the tournament. Credit goes to AshishNehra for his heroics in the match(Ideally he should have been the Man of the Match)which tilted the final in India's favour once the Lankans lost half their side at 51.
The build up for the biggest 50 over tournament is about 8 months away from now andIndia play about 11 Test Matches & about 17 ODIs ( Hoping India reaches the Finals ofthe Tri Series in Sri Lanka featuring NZ). Which means they have little time to get theirbowling act more combustible. The batting looks more settled in both the Tests as wellas the ODIs, however it the Fast bowling which is a little cause of concern. In the last 5Tests the fast bowling has been led primarily by ZaK, with support from either Sreesanth,or Ishant. In the ODIs India have the services of PK & Nehra. In terms of spinningoptions India are well served with Harbhajan, Mishra & Ojha. The cause of worry is thatIndia don't have a sound allrounder. I don't want to drag on as to why Irfan Pathan lost hisswing post 2005 & unfortunately he is not even near the selector's radar. Ravindra Jadejahas been doing well in the limited opportunities he's got, but India would have preferred abowling allrounder who could occasionally be used as a floater too.
The India A team has done remarkably well in England, primarily Jaidev Unadkat. Withdue respect to all, I personally feel the biggest rationale of picking up the "A" squadshould be to test your IInd string players who of late have not been regulars in the Indiacolours. Hence players like Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel would have definatelymade a case for themselves had they been in the "A" squad. This is where CheteshwarPujara has a justified case for himself considering the fact that the number 6 positionmight be up for grabs in the coming Test Matches. There is a lot to look forward to as theODIs have been wonderfully sandwiched with the Tests & of course the occasional T20.Its always good to enjoy the perennial Chicken Mcgrill with the French fries... What say?
