Suresh Raina’s World Cup hibernation may soon end. The middle-order batsman is almost certain to be included in the XI for India’s next match. He will replace Yusuf Pathan.
India’s next match, which is also their last league game, is against the West Indies in Chennai on March 20. There is some time left for the encounter but the thinking seems to be that the time has come for Raina to be given a chance.
Raina for Pathan is, of course, not the only change being considered. Ashish Nehra, too, will make way for another player.
It could, in all probability, be R Ashwin but a decision to that effect has not been taken with finality. Chennai being his home town, Ashwin stands a good chance. In fact, a very good chance.
Raina’s ability to bowl is also helping his cause. Like Pathan, he can bowl a bit of off-spin and is considered the right replacement for the Baroda dasher.
Pathan has been part of the starting line-up in all of India’s games so far but he has not exactly set the grounds ablaze. In five matches, he has managed 63 runs at an average of 15.75. Better things were expected of the hard-hitting all-rounder.
Meanwhile, the team reached Chennai on Monday afternoon.
Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan are expected to join the squad only on Tuesday although the team is not planning any cricketing activity till March 17. The players have been given rest for a few more days.
Before leaving for Chennai, the team held a meeting in Nagpur and did a postmortem of the close game against South Africa. It was felt that the batsmen were playing to the gallery, something that skipper MS Dhoni stated after the match in no uncertain terms.
The collapse — they lost nine wickets in nine overs, managing only 29 runs — was discussed threadbare and it was felt that the players will have to exercise restraint before going for the broke.
No one was willing to blame Nehra though.
“The final over could have gone either way. It would be unfair to put the blame on Nehra alone,” said a team source. However, it will be difficult for Nehra to retain his place in the XI.
But Munaf Patel, who too came under criticism for his wayward bowling against South Africa, is still not in the danger zone. He continues to enjoy the confidence of the team management and if India were to go with only two pacers, then Munaf will share the new ball with spearhead Zaheer Khan.
Patel managed two wickets in that encounter but went for 65 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
The meeting also discussed steps for the West Indies encounter and the mood is that of confidence and optimism. “There is no problem. We’ll be back. It was just one bad game. Everything will be alright in the next game,” the source added.
Despite the loss to South Africa, India are still atop the Group B with seven points. South Africa and West Indies, who have played one game less than India, are in second place.
West Indies take on England in Chennai on March 17 while South Africa clash with Ireland on Tuesday.
India’s next match, which is also their last league game, is against the West Indies in Chennai on March 20. There is some time left for the encounter but the thinking seems to be that the time has come for Raina to be given a chance.
Raina for Pathan is, of course, not the only change being considered. Ashish Nehra, too, will make way for another player.
It could, in all probability, be R Ashwin but a decision to that effect has not been taken with finality. Chennai being his home town, Ashwin stands a good chance. In fact, a very good chance.
Raina’s ability to bowl is also helping his cause. Like Pathan, he can bowl a bit of off-spin and is considered the right replacement for the Baroda dasher.
Pathan has been part of the starting line-up in all of India’s games so far but he has not exactly set the grounds ablaze. In five matches, he has managed 63 runs at an average of 15.75. Better things were expected of the hard-hitting all-rounder.
Meanwhile, the team reached Chennai on Monday afternoon.
Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan are expected to join the squad only on Tuesday although the team is not planning any cricketing activity till March 17. The players have been given rest for a few more days.
Before leaving for Chennai, the team held a meeting in Nagpur and did a postmortem of the close game against South Africa. It was felt that the batsmen were playing to the gallery, something that skipper MS Dhoni stated after the match in no uncertain terms.
The collapse — they lost nine wickets in nine overs, managing only 29 runs — was discussed threadbare and it was felt that the players will have to exercise restraint before going for the broke.
No one was willing to blame Nehra though.
“The final over could have gone either way. It would be unfair to put the blame on Nehra alone,” said a team source. However, it will be difficult for Nehra to retain his place in the XI.
But Munaf Patel, who too came under criticism for his wayward bowling against South Africa, is still not in the danger zone. He continues to enjoy the confidence of the team management and if India were to go with only two pacers, then Munaf will share the new ball with spearhead Zaheer Khan.
Patel managed two wickets in that encounter but went for 65 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
The meeting also discussed steps for the West Indies encounter and the mood is that of confidence and optimism. “There is no problem. We’ll be back. It was just one bad game. Everything will be alright in the next game,” the source added.
Despite the loss to South Africa, India are still atop the Group B with seven points. South Africa and West Indies, who have played one game less than India, are in second place.
West Indies take on England in Chennai on March 17 while South Africa clash with Ireland on Tuesday.
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