With the IPL coming to a business end, the focus is slowly shifting towards the international sector. Though currently Sri Lanka is engaged in a see-saw battle with England, it is being overlooked largely due to the IPL playoffs. But since India consists of large chunk of international cricket fanbase, it is somewhat expected.
But leaving that apart, BCCI has announced the squads for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh and the all-important England. Here are the squads.
Team for Bangladesh: Suresh Raina (C), Robin Uthappa, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Wriddhimaan Saha, Parveez Rasool, Akshar Patel, Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Stuart Binny, Mohit Sharma, Amit Mishra.
Team for England tour: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishwar Pandey, Ishant Sharma, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Wriddhimaan Saha, Pankaj Singh.
Considering the squad for Bangladesh, it looks like more of an India A squad. But it doesn’t mean they are less talented lot. Here are some of the noticable decisions by the selection committee.
Manoj Tiwary? Che Pujara? : Well, the benching of Manoj Tiwary in the last few years has earned Dhoni some criticism, but now, the inclusion is what is surprising. Not only that he hasn’t been greatest of form recently, he is not in the team for the England tour either, so logically someone else who would tour England should have been given the spot. Or else, talented youngsters who shined this IPL, like Sanju Samson or Manan Vohra, could have been given the spot. But calling up Tiwary for playing an inconsequential 3 match series does not do justice to anyone.
Pujara’s comfortability with the shorter formats seems to be a question. Though he has been confident of his abilities, it is indeed a question whether his services would be required in flat Bangladesh pitches. Instead he could have spent some more time adapting to English conditions.
Can the pacers shine? : India’s lack of victories abroad has been quite in sync with their inconsistent pace attack. While Shami has been good, he is not the greatest of swingers of the new ball. Bhuvi failed in NZ and SA, whereas the other bowlers in the squad touring England barely have past experience. But nevertheless, India’s success in the England tour will depend entirely on how their bowling attack manages to perform.
End of road for Zaheer? : Zaheer’s modest performances in SA and NZ was overlooked by an overall failure of the bowling attack. But it cannot be argued that his days in the international circuit can be minimum, that too considering his injury prone phase currently. Unless he performs exceptionally well in the coming domestic season, it will remain a question whether he can comeback to the Indian team.
Murali Vijay over Uthappa? : Uthappa has been impressive in this IPL. And he has been deservingly rewarded a place in the team touring Bangladesh. But his exclusion from the English squad for tests is something which needs to be noticed. Should Robin, who had an impressive first class and T20 record this year, be dropped ahead of Murali Vijay, who’s consistently managed to flop up the order, except an occassional fifty. Well, Vijay needs to justify the faith selection committee has kept on him, else he will be pushed out of the team.
While the T20 saga has ended, the time for some international action has finally arrived. Lets wait and see how the team performs.
