Dravid named in 30 man probable squad but Irfan left out

[TruSachFan]

So much for the building for the 2011 WC theory?:

 

[Howsie]

So much for the building for the 2011 WC theory?:

No point of picking players that aren't up to international standard, guys like Rohit Sharma and Irfan Pathan don't deserve to be playing 50 over cricket.

 

[SaiSrini]

So much for the building for the 2011 WC theory?:

Why cant that 'building for the WC 2011' theory include Dravid in the scheme of things? You need an anchor who can lead you through the innings. You will be benefitted a lot with the experience of a player of Dravid's stature (he is not being captain, he is just a player). Whats wrong?

 

[TruSachFan]

No point of picking players that aren't up to international standard, guys like Rohit Sharma and Irfan Pathan don't deserve to be playing 50 over cricket.

Well then why dont the selectors try to give chances to pujara, mukund, badrinath, kohli, etc. Why is there a need to go back to dravid? I have nothing against dravid, he's a class player. But before the CB series in 08, Dhoni had said he wanted a young team and he got it. Suddenly, the team loses a couple of T20s and one ODI ( just one freaking odi) and the selectors are recalling a player who was dropped in a little less than 2 years go. Where's the logic in that? Regardless, I dont think Dravid will play until 2011 anyways. And regarding Irfan, Champions trophy is useless. Why dont we use his services there and give other players breaks.

 

[Howsie]

You think the Champions trophy is a waste of time, why?

Plus I'm sure the selctors have just picked their best squad, no need to be looking for the future during a major tournament.

 

[TruSachFan]

You think the Champions trophy is a waste of time, why?

Plus I'm sure the selctors have just picked their best squad, no need to be looking for the future during a major tournament.

Well they play it every other year, so I think it's a waste of time. Anyways, this is just a 30 probables. With the Indian selectors, you never know. Irfan pathan would probably make the cut and Dravid won't. Dravid shouldn't give too much importance to this. Instead he should get ready to thrash mendis in co in october.

 

[aditya123]

when was the last time Sachin played ODI?

is he in 30? i think Sachin and Viru should open, GG #3, Dravid #4, then those kids

As recently as the ODI series in NZ. I think India are utilizing Tendulkar well in ODIs, they are getting the best out of him in the games that matter like in the ODI games in NZ or be the CB Series Finals.

Iam really pleased with Dravid coming back. That would mean we`ll have a steadying influence in the batting order which you do need in any form of the game. I`d say drop Rohit Sharma and bring in Dravid for the Champs Trophy.
It would also be some sort of a motivating factor for Dravid, to win a major ODI title because India do not have any major test tours in the near future. We`ve played Australia, England, SA both home and away in the past 2 years.

aditya123 added 3 Minutes and 26 Seconds later...

Laxman is far slower than Dravid in batting, and also he is a very sluggish fielder. You can only keep him in the slips and thats not a good thing for the team when you already have Sachin and Dravid.

One more thing with Dravid's comeback could be that it might let Dhoni go back to his old marauding game. Dhoni has taken up the responsibility of the sheet anchor in the middle order due to lack of other options. But with Dravid's comeback, Dhoni could possibly go back to his blasting days because you cant have too many anchors in a team (Sachin at times becomes an anchor, Dravid is one and Dhoni would make it too many to count). I have already started imagining an Indian XI with Dravid in it

Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Gautam Gambhir
Rahul Dravid
Yuvraj Singh
MS Dhoni
SK Raina/Yusuf Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Ishant Sharma

RP for the South African conditions, Ishant for the right hand variety (I dont have too much confidence in Kumar). If you need more bowling, have Yusuf or you can have Raina (he is as big a hitter, and can also bowl the 5th bowler's quota along with Yuvraj and Sehwag). If Sehwag isnt fit, then remove him from the top and fit in Yusuf Pathan just before Harbhajan Singh.

That looks a neat lineup for any conditions. If they play true to potential, they could well go on to win this event. I would like to see Ojha fitting into the scheme of things somewhere as he has been more of a wicket taker than Bhajji in recent times.
When are the groupings and schedule for the Champions Trophy being announced? They`ve already announced the schedule for the T20 WC which would be held in 2010 but no signs of any announcement on the ICC CT 2009 which is just a couple of months away.

aditya123 added 4 Minutes and 9 Seconds later...

And I don`t know why people call the Champions Trophy useless. I`d rather watch a tournament like the Champions Trophy than a 5/7-match bialateral series. Its not often that you get to see all of the world`s best players playing in the same tournament. I used to enjoy ODI cricket in the 90s when there used to be a lot of tri-series cricket played in every country. A tournament format with all the qualifying equations and a grand final adds to the thrill.

aditya123 added 4 Minutes and 1 Seconds later...

Well they play it every other year, so I think it's a waste of time. Anyways, this is just a 30 probables. With the Indian selectors, you never know. Irfan pathan would probably make the cut and Dravid won't. Dravid shouldn't give too much importance to this. Instead he should get ready to thrash mendis in co in october.

Its been 3 years since we last had a Champions Trophy. In fact we have not had a big ODI event since the 2007 WC in the Carribean.
It would be great if the ICC could restrict ODIs to the 2 major events, the WC and the CT. The bilateral events on offshore venues and the 7-match series are a bit of an overkill.

aditya123 added 44 Minutes and 58 Seconds later...

Plus, I feel all that building towards the 2011 WC theory is crap. You should pick people who are in good form (unless you are someone special). A player who has been exceptional might suddenly go out of form for the final 10 months leading to the WC. You look at a combination of form, match-winning ability and the conditions to pick a side.
If we do that, we`ll eventually have a damn good side for a WC or a CT.

 

[SciD]

2011 is in subcontinent and any rookie batsman can perform in that. We need Dravid in South Africa.

 

[SaiSrini]

@ aditya: Rightly said! We all saw what this 'building for the next world cup' did when Chappell was our coach. I dont say we should not build for it, but that doesnt mean we ignore our seniors who are still fit and can compete with the juniors. Discrimination should not be done based on age.

I am also expecting the Champions Trophy because a major ODI tournament after quite sometime is something I am waiting for. Its just that with the advent of the T20 world tournament and the main ODI World Cup, people feel that the CT is a waste of time. But its only between the top 8 sides and is not a bad thing to have.

I guess as far as the schedule is concerned, they might use the schedule that was put up when the Champions trophy was originally slated to be held in Pakistan (it has been postponed by a year and now relocated to SA). I read somewhere that India, Pakistan, Australia and West Indies are in the same group (will confirm soon about this).

Edit: Here are the fixtures of the same tournament that was supposed to take place in 2008
Fixtures, Schedule | ICC Champions Trophy 2008 | Cricinfo.com

If this is the fixtures, then Group A (Ind, Pak, Aus, WI) is the 'GROUP OF DEATH' and far tougher group than the other

 

[nikhil_99]

Dravid is a class bastman,no doubt,lets see how it shapes later,because for now he has been included in 30 member squad...

nikhil_99 added 1 Minutes and 16 Seconds later...

 

[Aoun13]

Irfan Pathan was really a class player but chappel has ruined him and now he is one of the poor Indians youngsters.

 

[Cricketman]

Dinesh Karthik
Gautam Gambhir
S Badrinath
Yuvraj Singh
Rahul Dravid
MS Dhoni+
Yusuf Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Ishant

One can dream.

 

[LongLegs?]

Dinesh Karthik
Gautam Gambhir
S Badrinath
Yuvraj Singh
Rahul Dravid
MS Dhoni+
Yusuf Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Ishant

One can dream.

I'd take that line-up, if Dhoni unleashes his aggresive side more frequently, as Badri and Dravid are your anchormen in this line-up tbh, and Ishant gets better at his OD bowling.

However Karthik opening...I'd rather pick someone else, as much as I like him.

 

[Pranav]

Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Gautam Gambhir
Rahul Dravid
Yuvraj Singh
MS Dhoni
SK Raina/Yusuf Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Ishant Sharma

The best line-up imo. Play Raina if it is a green pitch otherwise play Pathan.

 

[rockyrakster]

My line up
Originally Posted by saisrini80
Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Gautam Gambhir
Rahul Dravid
Yuvraj Singh
MS Dhoni
Yusuf Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Ishant Sharma