Feel sad for Sreesanth and Parthiv Patel

The selection of the Indian team always creates a lot of interest among the cricket lovers not only in India but all over the world.

And, I guess this time around too is no exception though even a paanwala at the corner would tell who were the certainties and who would possibly make it to the team.

It’s another matter when the Indian team tours abroad and when the selectors sit to pick the best combination for the World Cup, the biggest ever event.

The selectors can play around with the reserves and they would select players with a vision to groom them on the tour. But, you don’t groom anybody during the World Cup. As such, one doesn’t need to be an Einstein to select at least the first 12.

I am glad Kris Srikkanth and Co did a very good job in selecting the squad by selecting players who have proved themselves at the international level.

Though there are a few niggles here and there, luckily they are not the major ones and all the players would be available for the final selection of eleven when the match will be played.

However, one feels sorry for Sreesanth and Parthiv Patel. Sreesanth has been in magnificent form as was seen in the recent series in South Africa.

I won’t blame him if he is peeved at being ignored for a bowler who prefers to bowl in only ODIs and the T20s. Sreesanth has bowled his heart out in Test cricket, the ultimate form of the game and proved his form and fitness. Well, as they say, one goes for the horses that suit the courses.

Similar is the case of Parthiv Patel. Parthiv played superbly against the Kiwis and kept wickets brilliantly. I feel it would have been wise to select a second wicket-keeper, for there could always be a possibility of the main keeper getting injured.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a player in the team who could keep wickets if need be.     

The selection of Piyush Chawla and R Ashwin is quite interesting and a welcome move. For, both are young and talented and they would be more than useful in the middle overs. In the absence of Harbhajan, Ashwin bowled very well versus the Kiwis.

Piyush, on the other hand, was surprisingly sidelined for a long time. He is a fine all-rounder as he is a more than a handy batsman and possesses a safe pair of hands too. He would be an important cog in the squad, for he could get wickets in the middle overs.

India’s batting looks as solid as ever and capable of
putting up big totals against any opposition. However, the fitness of Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra will be the key factor, for if one goes down the memory lane, India has struggled to either get wickets or curtail the run-rate at the death.

They tend to lose the grip in the last 10 overs or so. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gary Kirsten will have to work overtime to get over this important flaw.

As the matches will be played in the month of March, the wickets will be drier and it won’t be a bad idea to keep a few overs of either Harbhajan or Piyush Chawla for the death.