Who should be India's number three batsman ?

[teamindia]

One Indian channel is suggesting Rohit Sharma. He has no work ethic and has failed too many times. I would take Raina anyday over him

 

[SaiSrini]

One Indian channel is suggesting Rohit Sharma. He has no work ethic and has failed too many times. I would take Raina anyday over him

Rohit Sharma should never get the test spot above the likes of Pujara, Rahane. I would say even Yuvraj and Raina look better than him. I thought his good series against WI was a sign of promising things to come. But he has proved that those two series were good because it was AGAINST WEST INDIES! His body language continues to dispirit the fans and his attitude towards his game is so bad to watch.

 

[Gaurav_7]

For Tests, please leave Yuvraj and Raina. They shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. Wishing Yuvraj a speedy recovery though for ODIs. We should be looking at giving the likes of Pujara/Rahane good healthy chances. Both are very good batsmen. I'd prefer Pujara personally.

Gambhir
Sehwag
Pujara/Rahane
Tendulkar
Kohli
Laxman
Dhoni

This should be the batting lineup for Tests. As Laxman and Sachin might also leave soon, we already have Rahane. We can bring in Rohit Sharma for Laxman. I'd want to see Sehwag open as long as he keeps playing. After he goes, we will need another opener. Rahane can open? I'm sure we have so many players in there. Just that I haven't been following Indian Cricket keenly nowadays.

Gambhir
Rahane
Pujara
Kohli
Sharma
.
Dhoni

----------

Mukund. Abhinav Mukund can open as well. So, we have..

Gambhir
Mukund
Pujara
Rahane
Kohli
Sharma
Dhoni

Yes, it is going to be a completely new lineup but, we have to start giving these guys some chances. And, by some chances I mean, letting them play a complete series at least.

 

[SaiSrini]

I would push Sehwag to the middle order, probably to No.5 till he retires. In that case, give Rahane the chance now and make him open with Gambhir, and push Sehwag down. or give Pujara a chance now and keep Sehwag at the top, and push Sehwag down when one more senior goes and Rahane comes in as opener. I would ideally want a non-Sehwag opening batting attack when India tours South Africa next year.

 

[AbhishekS]

give Pujara a chance now and keep Sehwag at the top, and push Sehwag down when one more senior goes and Rahane comes in as opener.

This.

 

[sifter132]

Interesting suggestions and plenty of options for India. Has no one suggested Gambhir yet? If he stops trying to run every ball outside off to 3rd man he could be an excellent player. Long term though I like Pujara at 3, Kohli at 4. Short term, I think it could be Laxman, Kohli or Gambhir at #3. I'd probably pick Kohli. His batting was REALLY good in Aus, he didn't have any obvious holes in his game like Gambhir does, and I think it would be good to see how he plays with the extra responsibility.

I started a thread after the Aus-Ind Test series where I put my top 6 for the next India series. I went for:
Dravid
Rahane
Kohli
Tendulkar
Sehwag
Rohit Sharma

Now obviously Dravid is gone, so I can't have that top 6. I'd probably put Sehwag back up at the top, and keep Laxman at #5. Yes, Rohit Sharma didn't impress in the ODIs, so I guess his spot is questionable, but I think I'd at least finally give him a go in a Test match. The talk about him needs to stop, pick him for a series or two and see if he can back up the talk and potential with actions.

No Gambhir until he sorts out his technique IMHO. Playing him again on lower bouncing Indian pitches will just reinforce his bad habits. Long term I think he's a very important member of India's team, but short term he's got some problems.

 

[AngryPixel]

My top six would be :

Rahane
Sehwag
Pujara
Sachin
Kohli
Laxman


Once Sachin and Laxman retire, this should be the next top 6 :

Rahane
Sehwag
Pujara
Kohli
Badrinath
Rohit

 

[War]

He got his chance in the West Indies ODI's and he failed. ODI cricket is used for test spots and he didnt grab it. In Indian cricket, one 50 is not enough, and more so when you have a player with the style of play like Badrinath. Badrinath is a far more slower version than Dravid and with that pace, he needs big scores to prove to the selectors.

Although teams tend to use ODI performances as a guide to pick players for tests, it is not a wise option. Since you have many players throughout history who succeeded in one format - but not the order.

His FC form remains very impressive and its hard to ignore him totally.

Also he can't be that slow, i saw him score runs quite freely in a lot of IPL games for CSK.

 

[teamindia]

Cricinfo suggesting Laxman

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

manish pandey's name surely should be getting mentioned a bit more in regards to future spots. he's been very solid and consistent for such a young player.

the IPL 100 may not be a sign of a good test player but I do sometimes things like that indicate players which have a head for a big occassion and doing special things.

 

[SaiSrini]

manish pandey's name surely should be getting mentioned a bit more in regards to future spots. he's been very solid and consistent for such a young player.

the IPL 100 may not be a sign of a good test player but I do sometimes things like that indicate players which have a head for a big occassion and doing special things.

Manish Pandey looks more the extravagant type player. He should first get into our ODI side and then see if he can make a case for tests. Maybe they can try him instead of wasting time on Rohit Sharma. Because once Yuvraj Singh returns, he is going to make one spot in the ODI's his own.

 

[icyman]

It isn't a fair question. Test cricket, i'd say-go for Chetshwar Pujara. ODI's it can be Virat Kohli.

Then again, we have the issue of Tendulkar, if he is still in the ODI team, it becomes more difficult, Gsmbhir drops to 3, and the entire batting line-up has to change. For test matches, it is simple, you just need a player to replace Dravid at that position. Kohli ,is an aggresive and a strong bat and ought to come in a bit later.
Since we have a possibility of MSD no longer playing Tests, I would like to see a stronger lower middle order

 

[VC the slogger]

Pujara at 3 and Kohli at 4 looks perfect to me.
If Sehwag wants to move down to the middle order, then he should be at number 5 with Gambhir and Rahane opening. But I feel that Sehwag should continue opening for us, no one else can have that kind of an impact at the opening slot which Sehwag has.

I agree with you regarding Pujara and Kohli's positions but not Sehwag's.I don't think he deserves to even remain in the Test team after such poor performances..

 

[icyman]

Manish Pandey looks more the extravagant type player. He should first get into our ODI side and then see if he can make a case for tests. Maybe they can try him instead of wasting time on Rohit Sharma. Because once Yuvraj Singh returns, he is going to make one spot in the ODI's his own.

Rohit Sharma is as good as over. With 100+ ODIs to his name,he really does not command a place in that XI as yet. About Yuvraj, remains to be seen, if he is fit enough to get back into the playing XI.

I agree with you on the Manish Pandey case, play him in ODIs and then wait for the Tests. Its a pity that he has not got any chances given that he was a part of the same U-19 World Cup winning side led by Virat Kohli in 2008.

 

[VC the slogger]

Cricinfo suggesting Laxman

Laxman's career is as good as over after the disastrous tour of Australia.There is no guarantee that he will even be picked in the squad and play in India's next Test series...