Right Test Combination for Team India?

The ICC test ranking definitely ranks Team India as number three but Virat Kohli knows that he has got a lot of work to do starting 10th of June against Bangladesh in a one off test match. The big issue team management is going to face, is the team combination for the game. Observing the combinations team India have played with in their last test matches, selecting the playing eleven is going to be a difficult task for Virat and the think tank.

We here discuss, what might be the best combination for the team. In the last few test matches India have played they seem to be consistent with the 7 batsmen 4 bowler combination and it seems the right combination to me. However, India have tried the 6 batsmen, 3 spinners and 2 seemers policy against Australia at home and it was immensely successful as they clean swept the helpless visitors in the 4 test Border Gavaskar trophy in 2013. Ravindra Jadeja who frequently managed to get Micheal Clarke out throughout played a crucial part as the third spinner and the seventh batsman. But since then, India has played only once in the subcontinent that was against the West Indies and Jadeja found himself injured. Once again against Bangladesh Jadeja isn’t available for the team. Youngster Karn Sharma gets a chance to prove his worth in the squad. Due to plenty of reasons, India just cannot go wth the 6-5 combination even inside the subcontinent. Karn Sharma simply cannot be trusted right now at number seven. Wriddhiman Saha is yet to show his dependability as a batsman, and it’s better for the team if he comes down as number 7 and not any number up. Therefore it’s pretty much obvious that India will go with a 7-4 team.

At opening slot, Murali Vijay is a certainity. He has been the consistent batsman throughout all the foreign tours and this is his opportunity to get huge runs. After all the hard work through all tours, all the robustness and resistence, this is the chance for him to improve numbers by getting some big runs. With Lokesh Rahul’s name withdrawn from the side, Shikhar Dhawan is also set to get another chance to show his worth in the test team. He must be aware that if someone is really under pressure, it’s him because after Rahul’s terrafic show at Sydney Cricket Ground, his return can make it difficult for Dhawan if he doesn’t perform.

Interestingly, Virat Kohli showed a very strict decision in the final test against Australia in Sydney by dropping Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara who was a reglar number three before. Suresh Raina was given a chance however failing miserably. Raina isn’t included in the squad after the pair at Sydney making an easier way for Cheteshwar Pujara to come back in the playing XI. It will be up to Kohli whether to play Pujara or Rohit Sharma at number three however for the only test, it looks like Pujara’s chance again to show the selectors where he belongs. I expect Cheteshwar Pujara to be the number three in the one off test and undoubtedly he is under a lot of pressure. Indian captain is very much certain to bat at number 4 in the line up. After the dream tour of Australia, with four test hundreds to his name, he is now cruising along with his test career as the Indian captain. Given his love for Bangladesh conditions, he looks to be in good mood to score some big runs. Ajinkya Rahane also is certain to bat at number 5. A stylish and amazing batsman, Rahane has played most of his test career away from subcontinent. He has played only one test in the subcontinent and was out cheaply in his debut in Delhi. After that he toured to New Zealand, South Africa, England and Australia and impressed everywhere. Now back to the subcontinent full of confidence and stabilty, a good show with the bat is waiting for him.

With the given team, the position for Rohit Sharma is probably number 6 and as usual, inconsistency has always been with him. We know how talented he is and it’s time to show it consistently with the bat. Wriddhiman Saha certainly is going to bat at number 7 and Indian fans clearly want him to calm his nerves and settle down in the team by showing some good performances. Indian fans know his caliber and want him to perform for India, where it matters.

Among the bowlers, India will go with 2 each from spin and pace department. Ashwin and Harbhajan look like the people to be playing in the squad as the spinners. Both of the off spinners will look to attack the left dominant Bangladesh side. Both can contribute well to the team in need with the bat. The choice of seemers in the team is a tough one however the experienced pace leader Ishant Sharma is almost certain to be picked as a key weapon to Virat Kohli’s armory. In Mohammad Shami’s absence which isn’t good because of his ability to reverse, Bhuvaneshvar Kumar looks to me the man who will be playing in the team preferred over Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav however one can’t ignore Yadav’s chances.

Ravi Shastri and coaches and Virat Kohli have the tendency to think out of the box and surprise the opposition. Whatever happens, a really good battle of cricket is coming up surely. Bangladesh can’t be underestimated at all in Fatullah. What would be the Right Test Combination for Team India?? Write in comments.