I think performance of Indian Cricket Team can be termed a pathetic at best. It is on the downhill ever since it won the first ODI at West Indies. Since than barring a win against listless England in Champions Trophy, it is all the same story again and again. There have been some individual performances in between, but that is all.
I think inclusion of Zaheer Khan was a good thing. I was wondering as to why Irfan Pathan was left out in preference to Agarkar or for that matter Harbhajan Singh. Knowing fully well that it was essentially a seeming track, leaving out a seam bowler against a spinner is not understandable.
I have my doubts about David’s captaincy. I think, he needs to tell the passengers, that he means business. Regular failure of Suresh Raina is a cause of concern. He is an extremely talented player and some thing needs to be done to boost his morale. I think on a fast track, sending Kaif at No. 3 itself was questionable specially when the first wicket was lost early. Dinesh Mongia may have been better suited in that situation. I would have still preferred Irfan Pathan to Wasim Zaffer if we had to play Harbhajan Singh. This would have given the fifth bowler. Dinesh Mongia who had earlier opened the innings or Dravid himself should have opened.
Tendulkar, Dravid/Mongia, Mongia/Dravid, Md. Kaif, Suresh Raina, M.S. Dhoni, Pathan, Zaheer, Harbhajan, Agarkar and Patel would have made the batting order.
I have my own doubts about Zaffer’s one-day capabilities against Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir is extremely unlucky to have missed this tour inspite of excellent performance leading to the selection of the team.
Considering today’s performance, we really don’t see any hope. In the next match if the pitch is expected to help the fast bowlers, and Sehwag is fit, I would prefer this batting line up:
Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia (L), Dravid, Raina (L), Kaif, Dhoni, Pathan (L), Zaheer (L) , Sreesanth, Patel.
The right left combination may trouble the SA bowlers in adjusting to the right line of the ball, if the strike is rotated regularly. Four fast bowlers and fifth to be shared between, Sachin, Sehwag, Mongia and Raina.
I don’t know why Raina is not being bowled in any situations. Some times part-timers do help to break a partnership. And if we are considering to develop a young team, Raina is likely to be essential part of it and needs to be developed as an all rounder.