World Cup 2019

[prasen9]

Once again Rohit proving to be the best in the game right now. Some of his recent criticisms on the forum just don't make sense to me. How the f does it matter if he is slow early on? In the end he wins more matches for us than anyone else. It's best he takes his time and settles down, because we know that when he is settled, we will win the match almost every time.
On the other hand, somewhat disappointed by Kohli's performance. If he is the #1 player in the world, he should be taking the game away from the opposition when given such a start. He has been unable to do that in all the 3 matches so far.

The point is that his tactics depends upon his ability to continue and succeed to play a long innings more often than not. The equation is simple. If he wins the game, he gets the kudos and if he does not he gets the blame. It is perfectly legitimate to criticize someone when they fail irrespective of what they have done in the other matches as long as both are acknowledged.

[Tolamu]

another casualty in Indian WC squad. Bhubi also out of WC due to injury.

[PKBasu]

He's out for 2-3 games, but that gives Shami a chance to get some game time. And of course we have the potential Mohinder of this World Cup (Vijay Shankar) finding his feet as well...

[PKBasu]

He's out for 2-3 games, but that gives Shami a chance to get some game time. And of course we have the potential Mohinder of this World Cup (Vijay Shankar) finding his feet as well...

[Sin Hombre]

If you are going to eat up a lot of balls and the team loses, obviously you will get criticized.

And while Rohit should deservedly get credit, Dhawan was the hero of the one match we have played against a top team.

[PKBasu]

Shakib is having a helluva World Cup as well, MoM in the two big Bangladesh wins over South Africa and West Indies.

His CWC2019 so far: 75 & 1/50 vs SA (MoM); 64 & 2/47 vs NZ; 121 & 0/71 vs England; 124* & 2/54 against the West Indies. Utter all-round brilliance (apart from the bowling effort against England). With that not-out innings against WI, his average with the bat in this World Cup is 128!!

[Atithee]

And while batting at #3, Shakib has taken up additional responsibility. That makes his performance even more commendable.

[prasen9]

Rohit has absolutely done well in this WC. If he continues doing this well, people will not blame him. The problem with eating up a lot of balls at the top is that it is fine if you stay there to catch up later. But, if you fall, then whoever follows you has to clean up your mess. Rahul had a very slow innings in the last match and someone had to come up after him to fix his shortcomings.

[SaniaFan]

11000 runs achieved in 60-70 innings less than Tendulkar or Ponting, with a batting average near 60 (13 better than Viv Richards) at a strike rate better than Viv's. The greatest ever!

He is a great alright but to say greatest ever is not right in my opinion. I think that would still be Viv. Viv was scoring at that strike rate when others considerably slower. Now there will be many with a higher strike rate than Virats.

[PKBasu]

Rashid Khan hasn't enhanced his reputation at this World Cup. Today, he went for 110 runs off 9 overs against England.

[prasen9]

India should give our bench players chances and keep the front-runners fresh by giving them a break for 2-3 matches. So, against Afghanistan, I would try:

Rahul, Rohit, Vijay, Pant, Karthik, Kedar, Jadeja, Hardik, Shami, Chahal, Kuldeep.

[Sin Hombre]

11000 runs achieved in 60-70 innings less than Tendulkar or Ponting, with a batting average near 60 (13 better than Viv Richards) at a strike rate better than Viv's. The greatest ever!

He is a great alright but to say greatest ever is not right in my opinion. I think that would still be Viv. Viv was scoring at that strike rate when others considerably slower. Now there will be many with a higher strike rate than Virats.

Many is a stretch, see below. Agree that he needs a starring performance at a WC to match Viv.

[Tolamu]

Vijay Shankar too is injured in practice. In doubt for the next match.

[PKBasu]

India should give our bench players chances and keep the front-runners fresh by giving them a break for 2-3 matches. So, against Afghanistan, I would try:

Rahul, Rohit, Vijay, Pant, Karthik, Kedar, Jadeja, Hardik, Shami, Chahal, Kuldeep.

It is never a good idea to experiment in the middle of a World Cup. If something goes wrong, you'll never hear the end of it. In 1999, Sachin's father dying in the middle of the World Cup, and him flying back to India for this, had a pretty large impact on India's campaign. The best XI available and fit needs to be picked, and will be I think. Can't tempt fate by experimenting against any opponent.

[RohitG]

This world cup however has compulsory 9 matches for every team and we've lost Shikhar Dhawan. Bhuvi too hasn't recovered. Last thing you'd want is to lose a main fit player for rest of the cup in a match against Afghanistan. It's the bowlers especially who need to be protected. Shami regardless would be playin but there's currently no substitute pacer for Bumrah in the 15 man squad.