by Sumit Srivastava
After ending the year 2009 at the top of the ICC Test rankings and at number two in ODI rankings, India starts as favourites in the Tri-nation series in Bangladesh. A series triumph here would bridge the gap between India and the number one ranked team in the ODIs, Australia.
irfan yousuf
Amidst some good victories last year, India had a few heart breaking moments too, especially in limited overs format. ICC World Twenty20, ICC Champions Trophy and a home series loss to an almost second string Australian side, were major disappointments for the Indians.
Off late, there have been a lot of concerns in various departments for the side. Bowling at the death, handling the short pitched deliveries and fielding, have caused many problems to the Indian side. But the real tricky question, as far as ODI cricket is concerned, has been the number seven batting slot.
In the last one and a half years, in pursuit of an effective all rounder, a number of players have been tried at number seven who could bowl a few good overs and get some quick runs in the last few overs. In the recent past, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja have been considered for this job but no one has established himself in the side till now.
Irfan is a pretty decent batsman and would have been an ideal number seven as he serves as the third seam bowler and provides the team with an option to field an extra spinner or an extra seam bowler. But off late, his bowling has not been up to the mark. He can be your fourth seam option but with twenty overs of power play now and his current bowling form, he looks too slack to be your third seam option.
Yusuf, on the other hand, has the potential with the bat to be the next Virender Sehwag and he has been more than a useful off break bowler for his home team, Baroda too. But for some reasons, he has not been able to deliver consistently good performances at the International level. With Indian batting line up studded with a number of stars, he needs to put up some consistent performances with the bat to cement his place in the side and with Harbhajan Singh almost being a certainty in the playing eleven, it is very unlikely for Yusuf, to play purely as the second off spinner in the side.
Ravindra Jadeja, the find of Indian Premiere League, came into the lime light for running himself out at a very crucial stage in the ODI against Australia at Hyderabad recently, in which Sachin Tendulkar played an epic knock of 175. It was certainly not the kind of a recognition one likes to get early on in one’s career.
But in the limited opportunities he has got, he has impressed most of the people. He may not have the brutal power of Yusuf Pathan but certainly, he looks quite solid in his batting technique and can score some quick runs. Unlike most of the Indian fielders, he is not a sluggard but he is a brilliant fielder and has already showed it on many occasions. His left arm spinners, with the off spinners of Harbhajan and slow left arm bowling of Yuvraj Singh, also give a good variety and support to the spin section.
Right now, for the Indian team, the number seven batting slot is just like a missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle, which is desperately required to complete the picture. Right now, Jadeja has everything going in his favour including the captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s backing. He has shown tremendous wit and verve till now and if he does well in Bangladesh and cements his place in the side then that will not only be good for him but for the Indian team too.
Tri Series ODI 2: Samaraweera Ton, Perera's Whirlwind Negate India's High Hopes
Tri Series ODI 1: Bangladesh Fly on Ashraful Innings; Dilshan Defies with SL Win
Tri Series Schedule: Idea Cup in Bangladesh Wants Teams to Show Some New Faces/Thoughts
Dhoni Feels Gary's Running Ragged, Needs a Bowling Coach to Complement
Sri Lanka Field a Virtually New Squad for Bangladesh Tri Series
Daljit Singh Takes Partial Blame, But Believes Kotla Should Not Be Out of World Cup Radar
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