Margao, Oct. 25: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten would be burning the midnight oil more than ever now. With just four months to go for the World Cup, the two have the tough task of getting their team balance just right.
The Indian team is blessed with top batsmen and sufficient bench strength in the bowling department, but it’s the search for one all-rounder that is proving to be elusive.
The No. 7 spot holds a very important role in one-day cricket. He is the one who usually gives his skipper the luxury to beef up his batting or bowling order at time of crises.
It would do the Indians a world of good if they can find a bowling all-rounder. India had Kapil Dev in 1983, Imran Khan played that role to perfection in Pakistan’s triumph in 1992 and Tom Moody was a key to Australia’s successes in 1999 and 2003.
Not long ago, Ravindra Jadeja seemed to have filled the slot but the Saurashtra all-rounder’s rough patch with the bat had raised question marks over his place in the team. Now Jadeja does not even find a place in the second XI with off-spinner R. Ashwin emerging as a new contender.
However, Jadeja hasn’t done too badly either. In the last one year, his left-arm spin was the almost economical (4.78) among Indian bowlers in taking 29 wickets from 29 matches.
But at the moment, it looks like Ashwin will get a few opportunities to show if he can repeat his Twenty20 form. And unfortunately for India these are the only two options that they have to contend, with the Pathan brothers —- Irfan and Yusuf — also having an outside chance. Dhoni is clearly a worried man.
“There are quite a few slots that are open (for the World Cup). We don’t have a world-class all-rounder, which means that a place is also up for grabs. It is also about what criteria the team wants to go with, whether they want an all-rounder or stick with a batsman who can bowl a few overs,” said Dhoni.
The team management is also looking at an option of squeezing some overs from part-timers Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh. Raina has been the man for all seasons for Dhoni and the Uttar Pradesh lad’s cool head with the ball in the T20 formats has impressed his skipper.
“Raina can bowl a bit and brings a lot into the side. At one time we had 3-4 part-timers who could bowl in international games but in this side right now we just have Sehwag, Yuvraj and Raina. If we are playing four bowlers, Raina’s role becomes very important,” Dhoni reckoned.
But Dhoni will know that the tactic is a gamble, even if the World Cup is happening at home.
Sanath Jayauriya and Aravinda de Silva did it successfully in the 1996 World Cup win for Sri Lanka, but it can backfire big time on the flat decks in the sub-continent.