Here's my ideal ODI Squad:
With Ganguly retiring from ODIs to concentrate on tests, the ODI captaincy is given to Rahul Dravid, with Virender Sehwag as his vice captain. Shikhar Dhawan is drafted in as the opener and Mahendra Dhoni as the wicketkeeper, freeing Dravid. Here's my ideal lineup:
Shikhar Dhawan
Mahendra Dhoni+
Rahul Dravid*
Sachin Tendulkar
Virender Sehwag
Mohammed Kaif
Yuvraj Singh
Irfan Pathan
Zaheer Khan
Lakshmipathy Balaji
Harbhajan Singh
There are four full-time bowlers, with three part-time spin options in Tendulkar's leg spin, Sehwag's off spin and Yuvraj's left arm orthodox spin. Of course they won't have to combine for more than 10 overs. Pathan and Balaji should share the new ball, and Zaheer should come in as first change, and Harbhajan after the fielding restrictions are removed after 15 overs. I think this is a real good team. Yuvraj at 7 plays the role that Kemp and Afridi do now, that is to accelerate the scoring in the last 5-10 overs. Sehwag has said he doesn't like opening in ODIs, and Tendulkar has had success batting lower down. Dravid can come in at #3 now that he wouldn't have to keep. Dhawan and Dhoni have shown their abilities in domestic matches and seem a pair to watch out for, and Dhoni seems perfectly suited to ODIs, and his keeping is solid as well. Kaif at 6 is good as he can play the second anchor role to ground the team in case of a collapse. (Dravid playing the first anchor at #3).
With Ganguly retiring from ODIs to concentrate on tests, the ODI captaincy is given to Rahul Dravid, with Virender Sehwag as his vice captain. Shikhar Dhawan is drafted in as the opener and Mahendra Dhoni as the wicketkeeper, freeing Dravid. Here's my ideal lineup:
Shikhar Dhawan
Mahendra Dhoni+
Rahul Dravid*
Sachin Tendulkar
Virender Sehwag
Mohammed Kaif
Yuvraj Singh
Irfan Pathan
Zaheer Khan
Lakshmipathy Balaji
Harbhajan Singh
There are four full-time bowlers, with three part-time spin options in Tendulkar's leg spin, Sehwag's off spin and Yuvraj's left arm orthodox spin. Of course they won't have to combine for more than 10 overs. Pathan and Balaji should share the new ball, and Zaheer should come in as first change, and Harbhajan after the fielding restrictions are removed after 15 overs. I think this is a real good team. Yuvraj at 7 plays the role that Kemp and Afridi do now, that is to accelerate the scoring in the last 5-10 overs. Sehwag has said he doesn't like opening in ODIs, and Tendulkar has had success batting lower down. Dravid can come in at #3 now that he wouldn't have to keep. Dhawan and Dhoni have shown their abilities in domestic matches and seem a pair to watch out for, and Dhoni seems perfectly suited to ODIs, and his keeping is solid as well. Kaif at 6 is good as he can play the second anchor role to ground the team in case of a collapse. (Dravid playing the first anchor at #3).