Thursday, January 25, 2007

World Cup Cricket 2007 - My guess of the 15 men Indian Squad

30 Probables have been named from whom 15 would be picked to make it to the Carribean. I would like categorize them into four sections.

1. My Guess - should be 85-90% true based on my instincts

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - Blind Pick (I will stop following cricket if the selectors fail to ink him - more than that loss would be the revenue loss to the ICC and the BCCI from the World cup if he isn't available).
Rahul Dravid - Blind Pick (Developing into a great skipper - has transformed completely different person than I imagined after becoming the captain - can never come close to Saurav Ganguly in aggression).
Saurav Ganguly - Blind Pick (I greatly appreciate of the persistence of this man for staging a great come back to both Test and One-Dayers)
Robin Uthappa - Possible opening option - But Gautam Gambhir may make the cut over him due to experience at the higher level (It's either or as having both of them will cause confusion with too many openers)
Yuvraj Singh - Blind Pick (got back fit in time from the injury)
Virendra Sehwag - Blind Pick (Even though risky based on his current form, he's a potential MVP - Most Valuable Player - such a demolishing batsman)
Suresh Raina - Will most likely make the cut above Mohammed Kaif and VVS Laxman - fit, consistent and a live-wire fielding option in the 30 yard circle.
Mahender Singh Dhoni - Blind Pick
Dinesh Karthik - Backup Keeper with such a wonderful batting and fielding options developed off late that we need not be surprised if he is in the eleven with Dhoni and can provide Dhoni some rest whenever needed.
Zaheer Khan - Blind Pick (I greatly appreciate him working very very hard and coming back fit and strong).
Ajit Balachandra Agarkar - Most likely will make it ahead of Rudra Pratap Singh as he is bowling good nowadays (especially improved on the economy rate) and most importantly provides an all-rounder option when needed to the team.
Anil Kumble - Should be picked according to me ahead of Ramesh Powar (For all the services he performed to the country at the highest level going through one humiliation after against by the Board and the Selectors, this platform should be dedicated and will most certainly be the ideal platform for retiring from the One-Dayers).
Harbajan Singh - Blind Pick (His economy rate is very very handsome in this form of the game off-late).
Irfan Pathan - Blind Pick (even if he is low on confidence) - provides a dynamic all-rounder option.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth - Most exciting player to be missed out of the equation. Hard worker but sometimes may find difficulties finding place in the eleven - but worth providing the exposure as he can be the future of Indian Bowling attack for years to come - I'm able to see another Javagal Srinath in him - giving his heart out 110% every single time.

2. Options to replace three from the above list (likely hood is 50%)

Gautam Gambhir - Might make it in place of Robin Uthappa as Robin would be too young a commodity to try in a very prestigious tournament like the World Cup.
Ramesh Powar - Might make it in place of Anil Kumble (if this happens it would be heart breaker for Anil Kumble as he waited for this World Cup to retire from one days even after being humiliated by the Board for a long time now).
Rudra Pratap Singh - Might make it in place of Ajit Agarkar but the possibility is less. Agarkar is proving his capability after a long long time now and will be providing a crucial all-rounder option.
Ramesh Powar - Very least chance of he making it over Anil Kumble (for all his hard work and selfless services offered to the country, I'm praying that this doesn't happen). Both cannot be there as three spinners are not needed for the world cup with the kind of tracks that we are going to play.

3. I feel for these guys - But that's all I can do as they do not have a spot

Mohammed Kaif - Hard Luck man - this might be a costly miss for you as you might never be able to return to the Indian team again - but still, making a come back is possible. It;s worth a miss as you have been out of the form for a while. Even Johnty Rhodes was questioned when he demanded a place with fielding alone.
Munaf Patel - Fragile fitness. Should not be picked. But, can be part of the future equation of the team's spear-head attack.
Dinesh Mongia - You started taking the place for granted. Worth a miss this time. Come-back might be difficult as competition is a lot now for a spot (especially your spot).
VRV Singh - Certainly can be considered for future.
Parthiv Patel - Sorry, going ahead of MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik is very difficult at this time, Last time, you visited South Africa with the team just to throw a B'day Party to the rest of the team as Rahul Dravid took care of your job too on the field. You are too young - so, come back later.
VVS Laxman - For only reasons better known to the Indian Selectors and the Board - we are loosing a player who once had potential to become the skipper - that;s all I can say. Probably, the board wants you to retire now.

4. Future Prospects - All guys below - Even you guy's are 99% sure that you won't be picked in the final 15. But hard work earned you a great opportunity to get involved at drills the greatest and greatest. Should be able to utilize it to be part of the future core of the team when Sachin, Saurav, Rahul, Laxman and Kumble retire.

Rohit Sharma
S Badrinath
Ishant Sharma
Rajesh Pawar
Joginder Sharma
Cheteshwar Pujara

2 Comments:

Blogger Nimmy said...

Hey Mani, :)
With your knowledge of cricket, I never doubted your choices...! :)
Seems like you've got it all right...except Munaf Patel...
I know you're waiting for the world cup! Here's wishing you fun n frolic durin the tournament!
Nimmy

3:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work.

3:50 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home