India’s World Cup squad: Are these the best 15 we’ve got?
We look at India’s 15-man squad for the 2015 World Cup and ask one simple question: Are they good enough?
1. Shikhar Dhawan
Is he good enough?
No. Based on his consistent failure and a tendency to commit the same mistakes time and again, a more experienced face like Gambhir and Sehwag would have been an obvious selection.
2. Rohit Sharma
Is he good enough?
Worth taking a chance. Yes, Rohit Sharma is inconsistent. But every once in a while he shows us a glimpse of what a world-class player he can be. And like we have done at the start of every tournament since his debut in 2007 (Yes, it’s been that long), we’ll once again cross our fingers and say, ‘please, let this be Rohit’s tournament.’
3. Ajinkya Rahane
Is he good enough?
Yes. Rahane is world class, no questions asked. The lesser-hyped top-order batsman has lived up to his promise so far. His steely displays in England and much recently in Australia have taken a bit of pressure off of Kohli’s back.
4. Virat Kohli
Is he good enough?
Yes, and another yes to emphasise how much we mean this. While the rest of the Indian team has struggled throughout the Australian summer, Kohli has been living on a different planet. With the kind of form he is in, Virat can potentially end up being the top-scorer of this tournament, much like the Little Master did in 2003.
5. Suresh Raina
Is he good enough?
Yes and no. While there is no question about Raina’s ability to dominate the limited-overs format, there are still question marks about is consistency and his weakness against bounce and swing—things that are likely to be exposed further on the Aussie pitches.
6. MS Dhoni
Is he good enough?
Yes. Despite his shock retirement from Tests and a slump in his personal form, MSD is without a doubt the most qualified man to lead the team in this tournament. His composure and cool-headedness remains one of India’s strongest weapons.
7. Stuart Binny
Is he good enough?
Yes. Not because Binny is a great all-rounder, but because he is the best all-rounder India have at the moment. Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar are far from dependable with the bat and Sir Jadeja is struggling with fitness, so Binny is not a bad option to have. He showed quite a bit of resolve in the losing cause against England and that kind of determination would come in handy for the Men in Blue.
8. Ravindra Jadeja
Is he good enough?
Yes. Legend has it that Jadeja is the provider of key wickets and he can smash balls around at will. Let’s hope that it’s true.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
Is he good enough?
Yes. Even if he fails with the ball, Ashwin always gets a chance to redeem himself with the bat. The sight of him at the crease is certainly more reassuring than some of India’s top-order batsmen at the moment.
10. Mohit Sharma
Is he good enough?
No. An emergency replacement for the injured Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma is yet to prove his worth at the big stage. With a pace attack already lacking experience and sting, Mohit’s inclusion doesn’t brighten up India’s chances any more.
11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Is he good enough?
Yes. His form with the ball hasn’t been impressive of late, but Bhuvneshwar always comes in handy as a decent lower-order batsman. In fact, he has the potential to establish himself as a full-fledged all-rounder in the team.
12. Umesh Yadav
Is he good enough?
Yes. He is inconsistent, but he’s got some real pace. He has previously performed well in Australia, and who knows, this might be the time that Umesh cements his place in the Indian squad.
13. Mohammed Shami
Is he good enough?
No. His swing has been next to invisible and so is his confidence. And since he does not have any pace or bounce to offer, Shami does not bring much to the table. Should Varun Aaron have been given a chance instead?
14. Ambati Rayudu
Is he good enough?
Yes and no. While Rayudu has had a decent domestic season, some might argue that Robin Uthappa was more deserving of a place in the squad. But it would be hard to find out if he can actually prove himself at this stage barring an injury (or another abrupt retirement) to MS Dhoni.
15. Axar Patel
Is he good enough?
Yes. In addition to an outstanding IPL in 2013, Axar Patel was one of the most impressive performers during the 2013-14 Ranji season. His inclusion adds a new dimension to the squad and puts pressure on Ashwin and Jadeja to step up their game.
So we’ve got 3 ‘No’s and 2 ‘Maybe’s, while the rest were all a ‘Yes’. According to us, five of the fifteen players selected for the World Cup aren’t the most convincing choices. Do you agree with our analysis? Do you think these are the best 15 to represent India at the World Cup?
