After creating opportunities for winning at Southampton test against England on a teasing and testing wicket India could not survive the strong English attack.
Lost the fourth test and fell behind 3-1 in the 5 test series, the final test will be played at Lords would make no difference in the fate of the series whoever wins. This series’ loss and the fact that Indian selectors have decided to rest Captain ViratKohli would make little difference of its capability of winning yet again in the Asia cup due to starting at UAE from 15th September.
India plays against Pakistan and a ICC associate member qualifier in the group and then wait whom among Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan gets through for business round. With the depth, diversity and quality of Indian team in batting and bowling, team India is now a formidable force in any format of the game anywhere in the world. But having said that it does not mean that they won’t have to encounter serious challenges from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
The Squad:
Rohit Sharma ( C) , ShikharDhawan (VC) , KL Rahul, AmbatiRaydu , Manish Pandey , KedarJadhav, MS Dhoni , Dinesh Karthik, HardikPandya , KuldeepYadav, Y .Chahal, Axar Patel , BhuvaneswarKuamr, JaspritBumrah, Shardul Thakur and Khallel Ahmed.
It is true adjusting with hot and humid UAE condition right after spending a long time in England in a hard fought energy sapping English tour would be demanding. But for seasoned professionals, it should not be that difficult. It is also reasonable that given very busy schedule ahead in West Indies and Australia and keeping an eye on world cup-2019, Indian selectors decided to rest their precious resource Kohli from the series. Even without him India has a wealth of limited over specialists to challenge any team anywhere.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are both prolific openers and have won many matches with their batting alone. Both plays pace and spin with equal ease. On batting friendly UAE wickets whether in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, they are expected to give India good start. We are not sure with Rahul in the team whether Rohit would opt to bat at three. Rhul had mixed fortune in England struggling against Anderson and Broad a bit, Manish Pandey, Raydu and Dinesh KRTHIK GIVE INDIAN MIDDLE ORDER SOLIDITY. Who else is a better finisher than tried and tested MS Dhoni. Hardik is a great all rounder and many has tagged him as a future Kapil Dev for India. B Kumar, J Bumrah and possibly Khalil Ahmed would handle new ball attack. Any one or any two of Chahal, Patel and K Yadav would spin for the team India.
What India lacks is fielding and fielding well. In tight contests against Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and even against Afghanistan this may cost them match unless fielding is tightened.
India is not unbeatable team .In limited overs one or two important partnership; one or two inspired spells of bowling can win or loose matches. Even after all these, India would be the team to beat in the tournament. It was unfair on India scheduling back to back matches for them. They were set to play Pakistan a day after they play the associate member qualifier. Good that this has been adjusted.
BDST: 1300 HRS, SEP 3, 2018
AH/SMS
