India's Chosen 15 may just drop the World Cup

As the 2015 World Cup squad was announced in Mumbai on Tuesday, India have a 15-man bunch who will face an uphill task if they are to defend their title in the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Though skipper MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli are the only survivors from the class of 2011, still the rest of the team does not look good enough on paper to trouble top-class opposition, come the February 14- March 29 extravaganza.

Openers conundrum?

Shikhar Dhawan, despite a decent overseas ODI record, looks unconvincing as an opener, whereas Rohit Sharma would have to step up his game to adjust to the pace and bounce laden pitches of Australia and New Zealand.

Apart from two forgettable outings in South Africa and New Zealand in 2013-14, Dhawan has had a shaky time at the crease in recent games, and would have to be in prime form if India are to have any hope of surviving initial pace hostility. Sharma on the other hand has another opportunity to prove his talent in overseas conditions, and can do well to conjure up some special knocks during the tournament.

It now remains to be seen as to whether the Dhawan-Sharma combination can perform up to expectations and give India the initial platform to launch their run-assault.

The other option to shoulder the opening responsibility would be Ajinkya Rahane, though it highly unlikely that the team management would opt for such a gamble.

Missing pieces in the puzzle

The exclusion of Murali Vijay is definitely a surprise given his recent purple patch in test matches. Though selectors may have taken into consideration Vijay's ability (or inability) to blend into the ODI format, still the Chennai-based batsman may have given that extra dimension to the Indian batting.

Although Vijay averages just 19.46 in 14 ODI matches, he could have proved to be the back-up opener, in case of an injury to either of the first-choice options, and his steady temperament was also a bonus. He has shown aggressive intent while playing in the Test Matches down-under and hence could have been a worthy choice. But the selectors obviously had other ideas. 

Even Robin Uthappa, who could have been the back-up wicketkeeper was not considered from the squad, which leaves Dhoni as the only specialist keeper in the team. Though the Karnataka batsman would have kept the run-meter ticking, thanks to his ability to contribute vital runs in the middle order, still the selectors opted for Ambati Rayadu and Rahane, both of whom are relatively inexperienced when compared to Uthappa.

Rayadu may have got the go ahead, thanks to his ability to also don the gloves, though on paper, Uthappa is definitely the better batsman than the former.

Coming to bowling and medium-pacer Mohit Sharma, who could have done well in pace-friendly conditions, too was overlooked as the selectors have opted for Stuart Binny, who has little or no experience of playing in a tournament of such stature.

Though Sharma, who did well in the domestic scene recently, was overlooked thanks to Binny having the 'all-round edge', still it would be interesting to see as to how the latter would cope with the pressure of playing in a World Cup.

Three spinners...a tad too much?

India's strategy of stacking the team with three spinners looks a bit risky considering conditions in Australia and New Zealand. Of course, though Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were selected solely on their ability to deliver a punch with the bat as well, still the inclusion of Axar Patel looks dicey.

Agreed that though newbie Patel has charted up some impressive performances in the domestic circuit, still playing in the World Cup is a different matter altogether. Instead the selectors may have done well enough to include a specialist batsman, who could have shored up the batting and reduced pressure on MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina.

Now it remains to be seen as to whether the young Patel would bring his 'A-game' to the fore, and replicate his domestic form in the World Cup. Apart from Jadeja, who has a proven track record in overseas ODI games, Ashwin who has 108 wickets from 80 ODI's is a genuine 'bowling all-rounder', who can deliver in crunch situations.

The only matter of concern for India would be as to whether their 'spin-trio' can adapt to unfamiliar conditions and complement the pacers, in what looks like a leap of faith by the selectors.

Faltering pace attack?

A pace attack comprising of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar does not inspire confidence atleast on paper, and as recent results go, the foursome have been blown away by the Australian batsman in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy.

All of them have come up short on the pitches of Australia, and though the ODI format is a different ball game altogether, still performing at the World Cup will prove to be one helluva of a task for the four.

Despite having assistance in Australian pitches, all four pacers never even troubled Australia one bit in the ongoing series, and it would take a massive shift in form if India are to comprehensively click as a pace-bowling unit.

Ishant would be expected to lead the charge, given he has spent more time in international cricket than the other three. Also despite poor form, Shami, Yadav and Kumar definitely have the talent to swing things around, and roll back the clock to the glory days of 2011.

No Yuvraj and Sehwag!

Of course the 2015 squad does not feature the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag, both of whom were part of the victorious 2011 campaign. Despite eye-catching domestic form, both veterans were ignored by selectors, which only proves that youth was given preference over experience.

Sehwag, who smashed a terrific century in domestic cricket on a green-top recently, could have proved to be the 'intimidating factor' in India's batting, and also his wealth of experience could have done a world of good for the team. Though the trio could have given India the edge in batting, still the onus now lies on Dhoni, Kohli and Raina, the three survivors from 2011, to deliver with the bat.

So as India get ready to kickstart their campaign in the tournament opener against Pakistan on February 15, at the Adelaide Oval, all eyes will be on Dhoni, as to whether the skipper can pull out another rabbit out of his hat, and guide the team to glory.

With the 2011 win all but out of memory, this current India squad eerily resembles the one that Kapil Dev had way back in 1983, who overcame all odds to clinch a famous victory.

The hopes of a billion Indians resting on his broad shoulders, Dhoni would definitely exorcise ghosts of his recent on and off-field travails, if he does an encore of 1983 and forever immortalise his name in India's cricket history!