ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 / News
World Cup 2011
Rahane, Pujara in World Cup preliminary squad
ESPNcricinfo staff
December 18, 2010
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Players/Officials:
Cheteshwar Pujara
| Ajinkya Rahane
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ICC Cricket World Cup
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India
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Mumbai middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane is the only uncapped player to be included in India's 30-member preliminary World Cup squad. Cheteshwar Pujara, who made a promising half-century on Test debut against Australia, has also been picked, as have opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, legspinner Piyush Chawla and allrounder Yusuf Pathan. There was, however, no place for Yusuf's brother Irfan, who has missed the initial stages of the Ranji Trophy with an injury.
The list, which will be trimmed to 15 players by January 19, also included three wicketkeepers in addition to MS Dhoni - Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik and Wriddhiman Saha. Karthik used to be India's first-choice wicketkeeper as a back-up for Dhoni, but he was left out of the recent one-day series against New Zealand, where Saha took over for the first three matches. Parthiv was handed a couple of games as well - when Saha left early as a part of the Test squad for South Africa - and scored two half-centuries, making use of his first chance at the highest level in six years.
Yusuf forced his way back into the reckoning when he won the fourth one-dayer against New Zealand with a brutal 123 off 96 balls after India were reduced to 188 for 5 chasing 316. Ravindra Jadeja, who was the preferred all-round option for the majority of last season was also included in the squad. Irfan's absence from the list, however, highlighted just how far he has fallen in the eyes of India's selectors.
While the one-day side has looked settled in recent times, Dhoni has said a few places are still up for grabs, including one for a fast bowler and another for either an allrounder or a big-hitting lower-order batsman. India have not yet selected their side for the one-day series against South Africa, and with the first game to be played on January 12, the make-up of that squad should be an indication of the composition of the final 15 for the World Cup.
Kris Srikkanth, chairman of the selection committee, said it was a team without surprises and expected a strong performance in home conditions. "This is a probables team and everyone selects himself," Srikkanth said. "There is one more month to go to select the final team and we will sit down and think calmly before finalising the team. They have been doing well in one-day cricket. The World Cup is happening in the subcontinent and I am confident that the team will do well."
Preliminary squad: MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Vinay Kumar, M Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Saurabh Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Parthiv Patel, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Dinesh Karthik, Shikhar Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Piyush Chawla, Cheteshwar Pujara, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar
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My Squad would be as follows (As per Batting Line Up) 1. Virender Sehwag 2. Sachin Tendulkar 3. Gautam Gambhir 4. Yuvraj Singh 5. M S Dhoni 6. Suresh Raina 7. Yousuf Pathan 8. Ravichandran Ashwin 9. Praveen Kumar 10. Zaheer Khan 11. Aashish Nehra 12. Virat Kohli 13. Harbhajan Singh 14. Munaf Patel 15. Parthiv Patel I my view the bet 15 from the preliminary squad only else i would have gone for Robbin Utthappa instead of Parthiv patel (in the squad as second wicket keeper) and played him instaed of Yousuf Pathan (in the playing eleven)
Posted bythis is why ajinkya rahane is there with his medium pace and what do u mean just becuase they don't have good all rounder they won't win if they play to their full ability this world cup is our you odn't have to have a allrounder to win
Posted by The_Professor on (December 23 2010, 10:56 AM GMT)Sorry to deliver the bad news to my fellow Indians but INDIA WILL NOT WIN THE WC! As I have stated before India lacks a fast bowling all-rounder, let alone a good one, in the selection. Unfortunate that I Pathan could not be considered. Now, the Indian team will have a very long tail. Notwithstanding, Bhajji's recent exploits with the bat, he is someone who can 'throw the bat around a bit' and along with three medium pacers who barely know how to hold a bat makes nearly half the team who can't bat!! India will be up against team where 9 or 10 out of 11 can bat - difficult to overcome. Only thing India can do to counter is go in with one pace bowler short eg. 1.Sewhag 2.SRT 3. Gambhir 4. Kohli 5. Yuvraj 6. Dhoni 7. Raina 8. Y Pathan 9. Bhajji/ Ashwin 10. Praveen 11. Zak Reserves: Bhajji or Ashwin/ Nehra/ Parthiv/ S Tiwary. This is NOT an ideal selection and I don't think it is good enough to win the WC. However, this is the BEST INDIA CAN DO in the absence of a pace all-rounder!
Posted byno problem with the team,lets rock on guys, don't blame.... this team will show their responsibilities in field... since this is not the final list... let us watch.... -MSK
Posted byIrfan should be there in the World cup 16 men sqad
Posted byWithout a perfect allrounder it is very difficult for India to win a world cup, Irfan should be there in the 16 man Sqad for world cup as he is bowling well in the middle overs and also bat well under the pressure conditions. Other than Irfan sqad is nice .....
Posted byYes.. Chari again proved wrong. He is acting very adamant by selecting Vijay in all forms of game. To win a world cup you need to have a player like Rahul Dravid on whome you can depend upon. I wish India wins World cup. But I doubt...
Posted by Selva007 on (December 21 2010, 17:41 PM GMT)Why Rahul Dravid was left out from the world cup squad? He is the only one player in Indian team who can easily adopt to the ground conditions and play accordingly. He is a wonderful player. Sure it will cost Indian Team.
Posted byWhere is Utthapa? He could have been a better keeper batsman than other keepers,except dhooni
Posted by coolgamer on (December 21 2010, 16:04 PM GMT)i am sure that india cannot win this world cup since there is no mr. dependable (RAHUL DRAVID) in the team