India

[Varun]

Why bother with Harbhajan? What has he done lately?

Nothing. (despite a 7-wicket test haul).

Though I feel selectors will stick to him, maybe 'cos of his experience?

 

[AbhishekS]

And he is far better than Ashwin and Ojha. Ojha is the second best spinner in India currently.

 

[Pranav]

It's a really tough one, but I guess I'll not pick Ashwin over Harbhajan in any of the matches that are going to be played. The experience Harbhajan brings with himself has a lot of value, especially in high pressure tournaments like these.

I'd go with -

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Gautam Gambhir
4. Virat Kohli
5. Yuvraj Singh/Suresh Raina
6. MS Dhoni
7. Yousuf Pathan/R Ashwin
8. Harbhajan Singh
9. Praveen Kumar/Sreesanth
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Ashish Nehra

 

[AbhishekS]

The experience Harbhajan brings with himself has a lot of value, especially in high pressure tournaments like these.

Well said. If not picking up wickets, he manages to tighten things up. Sometimes restricting the opponent's run rate is as crucial as bagging wickets.

 

[KBC]

Foolish to talk of letting Harbhajan go. Although I'd like to see Ashwin get into the game because he's a wizard in the middle overs, and makes batsmen bang their heads on his cutters. He's to be preferred if India are going with a tight bowling line up at the other end. It has to go with a team plan.

Secondly, Yusuf pathan is a blind pick. His dismal run has sort of been fading over now and his potential is finally taking it's turn. His century against NZ or (had it be any team would've brought india the victory) his lower order boost could be useful and he makes a good part time bowler as well. So even if to go by rotation policy, he should stay in the XI most of the time. Only the pessimists would see him not playing.

Zaheer and Nehra are probably the run overs for their places because of the 2003 WC at the back of the mind IF NOT for anything else. Both cool as cucumber should tackle crisis from strong teams. But i feel Nehra would go expensive than Zaheer would, and Sreesanth should just get his boots on for his nowhere to feeling good form.

and I'd always like Ishant to finally realize the tournament's intensity and revive his past form over again but it seems even if he'd get a chance it wouldn't be much use unless he performs in the given group games.

Spinners are a necessity but the selectors should go through all available performing spinners. Pragyan Ojha, where has he gone? Best bowler last year in the IPL, the dark horse. Amit Mishra seems the 2nd pick off the lot and considering he performs very well in the subcontinent and the IPL run he should be in the squad.

Overall India should do away matches with their batting power. Put bowling as the defensive cause because the batting is so good 7 batsmen would give a better edge than a 5-bat/2-all/3-bowlers pick because Pathan could always make himself heard with the ball.

India should win the WC but they have to be at their peak of their form. The other teams might not turn out as much they sound the underdogs they could be. India have to be careful of this one. Home venues and best players, and a lot of Cricket over many teams in the country and I think they are the favourites given they pull off on the above reasons.

 

[Firespade]

Top team: Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli
MS Dhoni
Yuvraj Singh
Suresh Raina
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Ashish Nehra
Ashwin

 

[King Cricket]

Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli
Yuvraj Singh/Suresh Raina
MS Dhoni
Yousuf Pathan/R Ashwin
Harbhajan Singh
Praveen Kumar/Sreesanth
Zaheer Khan
Ashish Nehra

I would vouch for the inclusion of both Yuvraj and Raina in the team. Yusuf Pathan is too mercuric to suit our tastes, and I'd much rather having a proper batsman at the seventh position instead of a crap slogger.

Otherwise, the team looks pretty balanced and I too will go with it.

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his lower order boost could be useful and he makes a good part time bowler as well. So even if to go by rotation policy, he should stay in the XI most of the time. Only the pessimists would see him not playing.

Playing Raina in place of Pathan will add further depth to our batting lineup which is India's main source of strength in the World Cup. That century was an excellent knock, but it should not eclipse the fact that he is terribly inconsistent and has, more often than not, proved to be a failure in high pressure situations when the team needed him the most. A good example is the India vs South Africa ODI played in Ahmedabad earlier last year, when he was out for 5 at a time we direly needed someone to hold the fort for us as we were chasing the 300+ total put up by South Africa.

I doubt whether he'll be able to handle the strain of the World Cup effectively. India can't afford to take any chances here considering this is our best opportunity to bring the laurel home.

 

[SaiSrini]

Mishra should be nowhere near the team. Harbhajan, Ashwin and Ojha are the spinners right now for India unless we have injuries there. Mishra is not preferred in tests also. In ODI's and T20's, he is just listless.

 

[Pranav]

I would vouch for the inclusion of both Yuvraj and Raina in the team. Yusuf Pathan is too mercuric to suit our tastes, and I'd much rather having a proper batsman at the seventh position instead of a crap slogger.

Nah, I'd rather go with Raina and Pathan. Yuvraj has been pathetic lately and that's the reason I'm not too keen of picking him in the playing XI. Whereas, Yousuf can be a real asset. He can get us some quick runs in the death overs if we are setting a target, while at the same time he can also help us chase big totals. His recent form has been decent as well. Plus, he's a much better bowler than Yuvraj, so I don't see why he shouldn't be included in the playing XI.

 

[SaiSrini]

I think we have so many options for our first XI for the WC that Dhoni and the management will have a pleasant headache of sorts when they pick the XI. Yuvraj, Yusuf, Kohli, Raina all of them will fight with each other for that middle and lower order spots. Raina should hopefully get his place easily because of the best value he provides with his big hitting, useful bowling and brilliant fielding. Kohli should also have an advantage due to the red hot form that he is in and also he is an excellent fielder. Yuvraj and Yusuf should be fighting it out and thats where Yuvraj could be at a disadvantage. Yusuf is a better bowler, and when he clicks with the bat, he can be murderous.

Tough picking a XI. Everytime I see others posting a XI here, I am tempted to change my mind. Its that tough and a good place to be.

 

[Pranav]

Rohit Sharma and Murali Vijay will be fighting it out for a slot in the 15 men squad. Though I feel Murali Vijay is a better batsman and has a more sound technique than Rohit, he might not end up getting picked as we already have (or rather will have) three openers in the squad.

Apart from the 13 players that I mentioned in my lineup, the other two players that are going to be picked in my opinion are Rohit Sharma and Munaf Patel/Ishant Sharma. We might as well see a secondary wicketkeeper in place of the aforementioned players!

 

[relentless_rock]

Rohit Sharma and Murali Vijay will be fighting it out for a slot in the 15 men squad. Though I feel Murali Vijay is a better batsman and has a more sound technique than Rohit, he might not end up getting picked as we already have (or rather will have) three openers in the squad.

Apart from the 13 players that I mentioned in my lineup, the other two players that are going to be picked in my opinion are Rohit Sharma and Munaf Patel/Ishant Sharma. We might as well see a secondary wicketkeeper in place of the aforementioned players!

There is this no extra spot u talk off b/w Sharma and Vijay, iff we are to take a 2nd keeper in 15. Infact Kohli and Pathan are fighting for a place, but both can make into 15 if India only goes with 2 specialist spinners. Wuldn't be a vry gud move to not have a wrist spinner at all in the 15.

 

[Dipak]

Nah, I'd rather go with Raina and Pathan. Yuvraj has been pathetic lately and that's the reason I'm not too keen of picking him in the playing XI. Whereas, Yousuf can be a real asset. He can get us some quick runs in the death overs if we are setting a target, while at the same time he can also help us chase big totals. His recent form has been decent as well. Plus, he's a much better bowler than Yuvraj, so I don't see why he shouldn't be included in the playing XI.

Yeah, but India are struggling or find themselves in somewhat 100/5 in 28 overs. Then Yusuf Pathan in that case will be ████. Though I have to agree that if you are 25 with 5 overs left, then he can be a real asset to the team

 

[KBC]

I would vouch for the inclusion of both Yuvraj and Raina in the team. Yusuf Pathan is too mercuric to suit our tastes, and I'd much rather having a proper batsman at the seventh position instead of a crap slogger.

Otherwise, the team looks pretty balanced and I too will go with it.

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Playing Raina in place of Pathan will add further depth to our batting lineup which is India's main source of strength in the World Cup. That century was an excellent knock, but it should not eclipse the fact that he is terribly inconsistent and has, more often than not, proved to be a failure in high pressure situations when the team needed him the most. A good example is the India vs South Africa ODI played in Ahmedabad earlier last year, when he was out for 5 at a time we direly needed someone to hold the fort for us as we were chasing the 300+ total put up by South Africa.

I doubt whether he'll be able to handle the strain of the World Cup effectively. India can't afford to take any chances here considering this is our best opportunity to bring the laurel home.

Sachin tendulkar failed to make a mark when he came in Initially. I'm not basing this as the defense to my post but when Yusuf started he had the same potential he has now. Even better. Ofc I have to agree he's been loose to his chances but the way he's picked up his mistakes and tightened himself over lousy shots is bang on cards.

He's a deserving pick in the side for what he's proving himself into, and more over he bowled more than he actually got to bat for a brilliant time. Even if I have to be skeptic over his performance, I wouldn't be so when it comes to the home venues. His average of 48 over the last year has been great for the games he played and the position he found himself to bat unto the situation given.

I find no better player in his spot and for his charisma in the field as a working part time all rounder. So taking yusuf off will be out of question, say, for the group games at least.

He can possibly be tested out if he's promoted up the batting order. His position is probably the toughest of the lot in the XI considering the situations a no.6 no.7 batsman would get into.

I think it's about time now. Comments will not do. Few out of the country shots from him should about do. :P

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Mishra should be nowhere near the team. Harbhajan, Ashwin and Ojha are the spinners right now for India unless we have injuries there. Mishra is not preferred in tests also. In ODI's and T20's, he is just listless.

Yeah fair call but who would you call for a back up spinner? Piyush?

 

[Varun]

Yeah fair call but who would you call for a back up spinner? Piyush?

There are already three spinners (aforementioned). We won't be that unlucky so as to injure two of our spinners.