India take on Bermuda in less than two hours and the Indian camp although confident of winning will be concerned about the net run rate factor. However as Anand Vasu says in Cricinfo, the focus should be on controlling the controllables and not worry about the rest.
The Indians were over cautious in the Bangladesh game after misreading the pitch and I thought were aiming at a moderate 220-225 mid way through the innings. I am sure the team would have, in retrospect, attacked more. I thought the left arm seamer was given more respect than his bowling deserved and allowed him to dictate terms.
They shouldn’t repeat the same mistakes here and should go into the game with an uncluttered mind. I agree with Sanjay Subrahmanyan that Sehwag should play today and hopefully bat at No 6. He and Dhoni will be the key to get India past 350. I think Kumble will get a game replacing Agarkar.
There is a lot of speculation that Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly will open. It really does’nt matter since Uthappa has shown that he can capitalise on the powerplay field restrictions too. Even if one of them fire and Dhoni or Sehwag can finish it off, we are looking at 350 plus… A lot of confidence going into the Sri Lanka game on the 23rd.
-Vish
I do not understand this. To accomodate Sehwag, Sachin should open ? Then Sachin should not have batted down the order at all. We keep on experimenting this lineup stuff and not sure when we are going to gel. I do agree, pinch hitting is useful, Dhoni up the order on special situations.
To the degree, if Sehwag is not going to cut it, India has to find another smashing opening player – ala Gilchrist or Jayasurya or Tamim Ali. Sehwag is a more useful bowler, than Yuvraj. Playing the slog overs also requires skill and experience, not to hit a sixer of every ball. Sehwag may need adjust his temperment. I get a feeling that Sehwag is a player with a tremendous attitude, throwing his wicket.
I agree with gnbmdr.We need to end experimentation and drop Sehwag once for all.We keep shifting the team around to accommodate one irresponsible player.
I know Uthappa failed today and I know some people will scream for the team management to replace him with their favourite player. But I think they got the balance right today. Sehwag at #3 is right. Even though he came on early today, he should be at #3. Agreed, he got a 100 against only Berumda. But yet, his confidence and timing were there. He played and missed early but once he got past that, he played sweetly. He should have gone on to get more though.
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Hmm… I know Sehwag got a hundred – But, I am still not convinced that he should come in at No. 3… at least, not yet anyway.
Sehwag’s current role in the team has changed.
He is no longer the Indian Jayasuriya or Gayle for that matter. Bowlers and captains seem have worked out how to bowl to and set fields to him at the start.
But at the middle and end overs those fields may not work and the ball will do less. My guess is he should do well at No 6.
The sooner the trio of Chappell, Dravid and Sehwag realise this, the better.