Sachin to miss Trophy

[Loony BoB]

You could say that India are Sachin for Tendulkar.

[howardj]

Tendulkar's absence really takes some of the lustre out of the tournament- especially the Pakistan v India match. Hopefully the little champ will be fit for the forthcoming test series against Australia. As for Gavaskar, it really is time that he delivered.

[anzac]

SRT & Murali out - decreases chances for both teams to advance..........

[Nnanden]

Not much of a 'Champions Trophy' without a true champion playing in it.

ahhhh my child, it is called the 'Champions Trophy' to find the champion team not player. can india compete without their best player? if not, it may just show how much of a one-man team they are (it has so far...) nooot gavaskar, put in a keeper IMO

[Arjun]

UPDATE: The Indian team's injury worries continue- Balaji is now out.

A local news channel, Headlines Today, said that Amit Bhandari will be flown in as a replacement. In that case, it's not that bad- it's a lot better. Bhandari has played before in England and has used the conditions here very well, and is a lot beter at it than Agarkar, Nehra and especially Balaji. He should make the starting lineup.

[masterblaster]

UPDATE: The Indian team's injury worries continue- Balaji is now out.

A local news channel, Headlines Today, said that Amit Bhandari will be flown in as a replacement. In that case, it's not that bad- it's a lot better. Bhandari has played before in England and has used the conditions here very well, and is a lot beter at it than Agarkar, Nehra and especially Balaji. He should make the starting lineup.

Good move, against Kenya I would have Pathan, Harbhajan, Nehra, Bhandari playing.

[Nnanden]

i still reckon bahutule (thanks arjun) should be given another run

[Arjun]

i still reckon bahutle (sp?) should be given another run

Yes. Sairaj Bahutule has improved a lto as a leggie and he has been taking wickets consistently. Not to mention, he can also get a lot more runs than the Indian tailenders. Having improved a lot as a strike bowler, his stats, especially his averages, are reason enough to pick him rightaway. Even his spin partner from Mumbai, Ramesh Powar, deserves an automatic selection- he is the best batsman among all the bowlers, he's also a very good spin partner (though not the best strike bowler) and a good fielder. He is a big match player, and deserves more chances. Both players are genuine all-rounders.

[marc71178]

Depends on the definition of genuine All Rounder a lot IMO.

[Neil Pickup]

If it's "wouldn't get in on either without the other", then yes.

[Sanz]

Yes. Sairaj Bahutule has improved a lto as a leggie and he has been taking wickets consistently. Not to mention, he can also get a lot more runs than the Indian tailenders. Having improved a lot as a strike bowler, his stats, especially his averages, are reason enough to pick him rightaway. Even his spin partner from Mumbai, Ramesh Powar, deserves an automatic selection- he is the best batsman among all the bowlers, he's also a very good spin partner (though not the best strike bowler) and a good fielder. He is a big match player, and deserves more chances. Both players are genuine all-rounders.

Not again, Sairaj has been improving since last 5 years, every time he is given a chance , he fails. Btw whom do you want to replace for him, Bhaji ? or Kumble ?? Ramesh Powar deserves an automatic Selection ?? Why because Arjun says so ??

Actually lets drop every one from the current team and have a team which includes Powar, Gawar, Bahutule, Mane, Sathe, Gire, PaRe, Uthe, Latke, Phatke,Mongia, Dhongia and every other player of your choice. So much for your rants. India will definately win all its matches then.

BTW - Sourav Ganguly has just shut you up with two back to back half centuries and Both resulting in India's win.

[Arjun]

Not again, Sairaj has been improving since last 5 years, every time he is given a chance , he fails. Btw whom do you want to replace for him, Bhaji ? or Kumble ??

No, one of those so-called fast bowlers. What great thing have they done to earn permanent places in this team? As for Bahutule, when has he been given a good chance to prove himself? He bats at 9 and bowls 3 overs. Is it enough?

Powar deserves an automatic Selection ?? Why because Arjun says so ??

No, because you say no. With a batting average of 35 and a bowling average of 28, he will not only provide support to Kumble, he can also provide support from the lower order. He hits the big shots. He throws himself around in the field to stop a ball. He is a positive player all round- in more ways than one. An opportunistic selector would have picked him two years ago.

Actually lets drop every one from the current team and have a team which includes Powar, Gawar, Bahutule, Mane, Sathe, Gire, PaRe, Uthe, Latke, Phatke,Mongia, Dhongia and every other player of your choice. So much for your rants. India will definately win all its matches then.

And what great thing has this Indian team done? Won a World Cup? Won 14 ODI tournaments in a row? Won more than two ODI series in 5 years? It's the same team, same plans and yet another defeat. There is need for change.

BTW - Sourav Ganguly has just shut you up with two back to back half centuries and Both resulting in India's win.

A very unconvincing half century- anyone in this team can score against Kenya. Even his last half century came two matches too late. He may get runs, but he can't run between wickets that well. He can't even field- except when he takes grounded catches. Besides, I have hardly ever said a thing about his batting- it's his captaincy that is a problem. When was the last time they won a tournament?

Depends on the definition of genuine All Rounder a lot IMO.

Bahutule- Batting average of 32 with more than a few 100's. Bowling average of 26 with 6 5-wicket hauls.

Powar- batting average of 35, bowling average of 28. A lot contributed on the field, too.

[aussie_beater]

Yes. Sairaj Bahutule has improved a lto as a leggie and he has been taking wickets consistently. Not to mention, he can also get a lot more runs than the Indian tailenders. Having improved a lot as a strike bowler, his stats, especially his averages, are reason enough to pick him rightaway. Even his spin partner from Mumbai, Ramesh Powar, deserves an automatic selection- he is the best batsman among all the bowlers, he's also a very good spin partner (though not the best strike bowler) and a good fielder. He is a big match player, and deserves more chances. Both players are genuine all-rounders.

Stop touting anyone who can score 30 odd runs and take a few wickets as an allrounder and that too a "genuine allrounder". That dilutes the meaning of the word. Bahutule or Powar replaces who in the Indian team ? Kumble or Harbhajan or both ? Give me a break. A lot of players have been tigers in the Indian first class scene without much success at all in the international arena.Yes, it can be a case of persisting with someone in the international arena and not relying on performances in a few matches, right ? And it seems that's what you are saying in the case of Bahutule or Powar, but you seem to jump to conclusions the moment someone currently in the Indian team fails in a few matches and you want them out and someone of your choice in.Why not apply the same rules consistently ?

[aussie_beater]

Besides, I have hardly ever said a thing about his batting- it's his captaincy that is a problem.

Yeah ? And who is the most successful captain in Indian cricket history ? Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid or someone called Ganguly ? And how many captains in Indian ODI history have taken the team to a world cup final ?

[masterblaster]

Well said aussie_beater.