Focus on Rohit and Robin

Whilst we have a lot of changes happening on both sides, the entire focus of the BCCI and the nation would be on Rohit Sharma and Robin Utthappa. While Rohit hit a 111 ball 141 recently which may suggest he is raring to go, Robin has batted with a lot of ease and assurance at the top for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

The added role Robin plays is of being a wicketkeeper. He may not even be half as good Wriddhiman Saha or Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but is being looked at due to his stupendous run in the shortest version of the game. While we forget that Ajinkya Rahane is still in the team, only two out of Ajinkya, Rohit and Robin get to open the innings. If Robin is purely been slotted as a backup wicketkeeper batsman at 6 or 7 where Dhoni bats, then it may not be a great option. Uthappa can be more effective at the top and not in the middle order, although when he last played for India, he was batting in the middle order. Rohit Sharma too has come of age at the top of the order, although he started his India stint in the middle order. Rohit is more suited to the middle order, as he can pace his innings well like Rahane. So the middle order berth maybe a toss between Rohit and Rahane (if both play today ofcourse). It is unlikely that Uthappa does not play today. He is assuming the wicketkeeping duties for the last two One Dayers. Ambati Rayudu and Kedhar Jadhav providing backup if need be. The Indian team management would definitely be looking at these key players before the World Cup probables are announced.

Another interesting selection is of Karn Sharma. He adds to the impressive unfolding story of exciting new talents springing up from small towns and cities. Hailing from Meerut, his rise in the ranks has been steep ever since he caught attention in the IPL for the Hyderabad Sunrisers. The leggie has bowled miserly and has shown glimpses of genius in the IPL. He is zippy like Kumble and does not turn the ball square. But he can get you the breakthroughs. Remember we also had Piyush Chawla in the last World Cup, who is pretty similar to Karn. Piyush Chawla is infact a year younger than Karn, although Piyush was a teenage prodigy and entered into the international arena much earlier. Karn has however displaced another leggie and World Cup hopeful Amit Mishra. If Karn is even half as successful as he is expected to be, then the doors for Mishra are closed for ever. My reading into the recent selections for Australia and the remaining One dayers has been that the team management is focussing on younger talent which also translates into a better fielding side. So forget about the Harbhajan Singhs and Virender Sehwags. 

India still has to find that death bowler for the medium term, and one claimant to that role was Vinay Kumar. He is accurate with his slow balls and yorkers in the death and has been pretty effective for Karnataka and his IPL franchises. He needs to be given a go ahead of Dhawal Kulkarni. Vinay can rattle a rampaging batting unit with his slower ones and back of the hand stuff. The biggest upside in the quick bowling department this series has been Umesh Yadav. He has bowled with pace and bounce in this series and can pack a punch on tracks Down Under. Along with the wayward Varun Aaron, Team India for the first time perhaps will have two frontline genuine quick bowlers capable of bowling regularly in excess of 145 kmph.

For the Lankans, ofcourse it is about restoring pride and winning the remaining matches. But it is as much about finding the right combination in both batting and bowling. The return of Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal augurs well for Srilanka, although I do not understand the logic of resting Sangakkara. Mahela should bat at 3 in his absence to anchor the innings. If Mahela is allowed to open with Dilshan, then Srilanka may also try out rookie wicketkeeper (left handed) batsman Niroshan Dickwella who can bat in the middle order with Thirimanne, Chandimal and Mathews. Dickwella is a child prodigy and displaced Dinesh Chandimal into the Test Side. He may be a perfect replacement for Sanga. If he is good, why not give him more opportunities before booking his flight to Australia. The same holds true for Ajantha Mendis. If he is fit, play him and see how he responds to a batting unit which play spin very well. That would be the test of his character.

In summary, today's match would see better competition between the sides. India needs to guard against complacency. An early exit of the openers would mean a nervous time during the middle overs. Mathews would surely want a win or two under his belt for that feel good factor in the dressing room.