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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 15
India has named the 15 men who it expects to bring home the World Cup. Ambati Rayudu, who has played the highest number of ODIs for India at the critical No. 4 batting position since 2017, has been left out. Rishabh Pant, the Haridwar-born 21-year-old wicketkeeper, has been left out too. The selectors have tried to solve the vexed No. 4 question and the reserve wicketkeeper issue by including Dinesh Karthik in the squad.
But the No. 4 spot is still not settled, though chief selector MSK Prasad did say that allrounder Vijay Shankar will get that spot. However, Shankar’s position in the playing XI is not yet cemented, and Prasad went on to say that three others in the squad of 15 could bat at No. 4. The selectors have Karthik, Kedar Jadhav and even KL Rahul in their minds to bat at No. 4, if need be.
Prasad said that they discussed the possibility of even MS Dhoni batting at No. 4. “It (Dhoni at No. 4) was discussed,” Prasad said. “But I don’t think that was the point. The point discussed is that Vijay Shankar will bat at No. 4 and so can Kedar Jadhav and we also have a role for KL (Rahul) somewhere.” Prasad also said that Rahul would be the reserve opener and will be sent into the middle order only if the preferred players don’t perform.
Spin options
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will be India’s main spinners, but Ravindra Jadeja has been included in the squad as a spin-bowling allrounder — that has been done due to the prospect of a hot English summer leading to dry pitches.
“In the last one-and-half years, it’s the two wrist-spinners who have won us games,” Prasad said about Yadav and Chahal. “In the second part of the tournament, wickets might be a bit drier. That’s where we feel Jadeja will come in handy.”
Hardik Pandya will be India’s main allrounder and depending on the wickets, Shankar or Jadeja could be brought into the XI.
Three specialist pacers
India have gone for three allrounders, so there’s room for only three specialist pace bowlers in the squad — Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. Two other pacers — Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed — were discussed at the selection committee meeting. But clearly, the two haven’t impressed the selectors enough — Ahmed has played 8 ODIs and 9 T20Is while Saini is yet to play for India. Prasad, though, said that the two would be on stand-by. “Khaleel and Saini were discussed and they will be around. If the need arises, one of them will go to England,” Prasad said.
Karthik trumps Pant
MSK Prasad said that the experience and better wicketkeeping skills of Dinesh Karthik (left), 33, got him into the squad ahead of Rishabh Pant. “It’s definitely a case where we have debated at length and all of us in unison felt that either Rishabh Pant or DK (Karthik) will only come into the playing XI if Mahi (Dhoni) is injured,” Prasad said. “If it is a crucial match, like a quarterfinal or a semifinal or like an important game, wicketkeeping also matters. So that’s the only reason that we went ahead with Dinesh Karthik. Otherwise Rishabh Pant was almost there.... Under pressure, we have seen Dinesh Karthik finishing matches. That’s one reason that scored for him.”
No. 4 conundrum
India have tried 11 batsmen at No. 4 since the 2017 Champions Trophy, and Ambati Rayudu played the most ODIs (15) at the spot. Until late last year, he seemed to be a certainty for the World Cup. But a few bad innings, and the emergence of Vijay Shankar (right), changed the equation. “After that Champions Trophy (in 2017) we have tried quite a few middle-order batsmen, which also includes Dinesh Karthik; we also tried Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey. We did give a few more chances to Rayudu, but what Vijay Shankar offers is three dimensions,” Prasad said. “Apart from his batting, he can bowl. If the conditions are suitable, overcast, which we might encounter in England, he might bowl a bit, and he’s a fantastic fielder. We are looking at him at No. 4 to begin with. With Karthik in and also Jadhav in, we have plenty of options at that No. 4 right now.”
Surprised at Pant’s omission, says Gavaskar
A bit surprised, looking at his (Pant’s) form. He was batting exceptionally well, not only in the IPL but before that also. He was showing great improvement in his wicket-keeping as well. He brings that left-handed option in the top-six which is very handy against the bowlers. The bowlers have to change their line (for a left-hander) and the captains have to do a lot of field arrangements. —Sunil Gavaskar
No Rishabh Pant in the World Cup squad... India must be bonkers! —Michael Vaughan
It’s impossible to keep everyone happy with team selections but Karthik’s inclusion is surprising. Selectors are guilty of showing no consistency in his case. Discarded after January 2019 to select him straight for the World Cup. —Sanjay Manjrekar
Wasn’t Pant elevated to the top tier of the central contracts a few weeks back? Not a certainty in two of the three formats. India has picked Shankar as No. 4 option. Without really knowing if it’ll work. DK will play only when Dhoni isn’t available. And no fourth seamer. Interesting choices. Hope it works. Good luck. —Aakash Chopra
The Indian team is very balanced and one of the strong contenders for the title. I have monitored Bhuvi and Vijay in the nets while they were on Sunrisers Hyderabad duty. They look in great shape and are raring to perform on a stage like the World Cup. I can see these players contributing to the team’s success in a major way. —VVS Laxman
— With inputs from Mumbai
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