India takes the safer route, other teams play bold: WC squad analysis

Did IPL have no impact on Virat Kohli’s selection strategy?

Will the Shastri-Kohli duo be able to write history by helping India win their third ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019! The first ever Test series win in Australia was a reminder of what this group of players can achieve with a little coordination.

Most teams have announced personnel for the mega event in England starting 30 May and at the outset, it appears India have taken the least risks. But hey! Vijay Shankar is a risk, isn't he? No, he is not. Pant would have been a risk. Merits of Shankar's selection can be debated and the players missing out definitely deserve answers.

Australia provided a needed jolt to the Indian ODI juggernaut which was in no mood to relent in the last series before the WC. The 4-time winners showed that you should count them out at your own peril. The WC squad does not feature 2 heroes of the Mohali game – Ashton Turner and Peter Handscomb, that is the kind of bench strength they have. England, on the other hand, have left out the excellent Sam Billings from the squad.

Dear IPL don't spoil the party!

India have made the mistake of previously selecting squads based on IPL performances and learnt the hard lessons. MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors had made it amply clear that those mistakes won't be repeated and the core group would be selected upon performances in ODIs after 2015 WC.

Virat Kohli was quite vocal in his delight to have Shankar in the side and has clearly stated that the batting order would only be decided after having a detailed look at pitch conditions in the UK. Men in blue have tried 10 batsmen at the number 4 position after the 2017 Champions trophy, which is double the candidates you expect to fight for a spot. Ambati Rayudu started emerging as a preferred choice 2018 onwards.

It was Kohli who expressed ample confidence and labelled him India's answer to the long number 4 conundrum.

The Australia series, India losing 3-2

So what changed in the Australia series. It was without a doubt an audition for the World Cup and did present a better opportunity for selectors to decide than the IPL which is a different format and requires different skills. The pressure of an international game can't be rehearsed in franchise cricket. Rayudu was found wanting against Pat Cummins genuine pace and did have a tough time. But should that have affected his WC spot? The other thing is what Shankar offered was a three-dimensional additional addition to the team's composition.

Image credit: Wikimedia

Rayudu was not the only guy who should feel hard done. None of us have forgotten the Sydney ton of Manish Pandey chasing a score over 300. He performed alright in the limited chance he got but Kohli's desperation to keep trying different players in the limited number of games eventually collapsed his confidence. Mayank Agarwal despite a pathbreaking season in all 3 formats was never tried in coloured clothing. He could have been the best potentially stable batsman for that crucial slot.

Ravi Shastri mentions flexibility a lot of times in his press conferences. India's team management might rue the strategy of trying out too many players for one slot and handing a wild card to Shankar in the end.

Dynamic options

The Bowling strength of Kohli's side is probably the best alongwith South Africa. Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar are world class bowlers who have performed mostly in batsman-friendly conditions. All teams have spinners but none like either Kuldeep or Chahal. The duo has taken most wickets by any pair since the 2017 CT.

Image credit: Twitter (@BCCI)

2011 champions must resist temptations of dropping either spinner from the eleven at cost of an allrounder. Given the small grounds, middle overs would be a critical phase in the matches. Bowlers who invite batsman to takes risks are better placed to spin a web and claim game-changing scalps. Hardik Pandya is an automatic selection and could play a knock like blistering half-century against Pak in the CT final.

As squads selections go this is India's most experienced side in terms for games under their belt to dawn the World Cup hat. Virat Kohli could do what Ricky Ponting did with the invincible Aussies in 2003 WC. Fingers crossed.