So we are on the verge of start of another Big Tour . This time the Mighty English awaits us . What is to be seen that how will be change our POOR TRAVELLERS Tag playing against the No.1 ODI Team and which has won 7 consecutive series . Come on let us have a look at our Strengths and Weakness (if any) . Starting from the recently concluded IRELAND Series we see that our Team is quite balanced and even have a very Strong Bench Strength . Though their Team was below par but still our Domination was above Infinity . Now VIRAT has truely said it’s a big HEADACHE for whom to play .
ENGLAND has been a place of very Historic Significance with us and roght from the fact that we played our first Test against them in 1932 we won our first match in 1952 and first Overseas match in 1968 against this Team only . The most Historic Victory was in 1971 when under AJIT WADEKAR’s Captaincy we broke the RUBBER and won the Series first time there and became one of the few teams to beat them at Home . This sparked a Revolution and we even defeated WEST INDIES WHICH WAS Unbeatable at their backyard which was a Milestone achieved by us only at that time . Then we won several Historic Tests there specially two LORD Victories under KAPIL DEV nad MS DHONI can never to be forgotten . The series Win under Sourav Ganguly is also remembered as Epic , specially when he played the GAMBLE of playing 2 Spinners and batting first on a Challenging Wicket ; later on we demolished their Line Up under Spin Trap .
Also who can forget the NATWEST TROPHY Victory is one of the most Historic Events in Indian Cricket History where the SHIRT Opening Event occurred , I will not be surprised to see such a situation again ; we have won 3 consecutive ODI Series agaisnt them so we have a Upper Hamd in Limited Over format . But in Test format our pat recorda nd specially recent ones are as Poor as an Ordinary Team .
Now keeping HISTORY aside we need to concentrate on Present and execute our Unmatchable Potential perfectly against our Rivals . There is not much difference playing in HOME and AWAY just we have to keep our Mindset positive , or else even playing at Home will also be Comfortable . This time Challenge is more bigger as ENGLAND have been in Red Hot form and won 7 consecutive ODI series . But there is a fact that will Relax you a bit ; before those 7 last series they lost was against INDIA only back in 2017 . Also I would like to present yet another Amazing Fact . Last two ODIs played at CARDIFF saw two Record breaking big scores both by England only against PAKISTAN and AUSTRALIA , we also will play our first ODI there only ; this time ; Maybe 500 be scored , Maybe some other high scoring records may be broken , Maybe we can be the ones doing such things ; though , just saying .
Starting from T20 Setup we see that our Openers are Extremely strong and in middle order RAINA , DHONI and PANDYA are in Quite Good form . BHUVI has the main responsibility as a Bowler not only because he is Experienced and toured UK once but also because we don’t have BUMRAH now . Apart from him KAUL and UMESH can also be quite effective there . In the Spin Department I am so confident that I can bet my life on the fact that English will struggle very badly against our Spinners . PANDYA also just needs some Consistency and Rhythm to become a Effective Bowler . We also have KRUNAL PANDYA who can be an Effective All rounder . KRUNAL is a player I really rate veey highly and have high hopes on him . I think ROHIT should make way for RAHUL as he is not in that Rhythm as him especially in T20s where you don’t have much time to analyse .
My T20 Playing XI will be
RAHUL , DHAWAN , VIRAT , RAINA , MS DHONI , KRUNAL , HARDIK , BHUVI , UMESH , CHAHAL , KULDEEP
In the ODI Department the Team Setup will be very much Same ; just RAHUL will have to bat at 4 and ROHIT will open . In middle order there also I will prefer KARTHIK , we also have IYER and RAINA and my second pacer will be KAUL . Also AXAR is another Spin option which can be effective . Mainly the ODI and T20 Team will be same but just some minor Firmat Specifuc changes are required . Stability is required in middle order to solve the MIDDLE MUDDLE our only concern and we can tick all the boxes in becoming a Perfect Team . Only other thing I was concerned is Finishing and as we have seen against Ireland it also seems Quite Strong now .
Here my ODI Playing XI is
ROHIT , DHAWAN , VIRAT , RAHUL , MS DHONI , KARTHIK , PANDYA , BHUVI , KULDEEP , CHAHAL , KAUL
Finally we will face Engalnd in Test series where the Challenges will be the Toughest ; but as we would have played Limited Over series by then it will be much easy to adjust ; only keeping in mind the wicket will be a bit Bowler friendly . But we have to make that our Weapon with BHUVI being our Bowling Leader . We have to make a choice between 2 spinners (JADDU amd ASHWIN) or Hardik Pandya and a Spinner ; as we have to go with 3 pacers and for taht we have SHAMI , BUMRAH , ISHANT and UMESH . In Batting there is a UNIVERSAL confusion for Openers , I think I will like to go with DHAWAN and RAHUL ; specially DHAWAN has been in a Stunning Form in all 3 formats . In middle order we have PUJARA , VIRAT and RAHANE , we will have to keep Reserve batsman and my main pick is PRITHWI SHAW and Reserve Pacer pick os DEEPAK CHAHAR .
My Test Playing XI is
RAHUL , DHAWAN , PUJARA , VIRAT , RAHANE , HARDIK , SAHA , ASHWIN/JADEJA , BHUVI , SHAMI , BUMRAH
Players who will be our Key Weapons are PANDYA whose Ability will be a Trump Card and will provide the Balance many few teams have . Then BHUVI ; not only he was Man of the Series in last UK Tour but he also has more Experience and Maturity than then so we can just imagine how Lethal he can be . Then RAHUL he is the second most Skilled player in India after KOHLI when we see across all 3 Formats and he is in a Unstoppable Form which needs Capitalisation and Conversion rate . Then DHONI , the Form he had in the IPL if continued , which will be continued then I can just imagine what will be the Condition of English Bowlers .
Some of you might be thinking that I have not talked about KOHLI’s Form which has been in a Dip for some time . For KOHLI I just blindly say that he will conquer the only FORT left to be captured by him . Though his last Engalnd Tour was a HELL ; but that time was Different , that Situation was different an dmost importantly that VIRAT KOHLI was different . This time he will surely amass Records both a sBatsman and Captain . There are many records going in my mind but I will predict just one “1000 Runs in the Tour” . This Summer is VIRAT KOHLI’s SUMMER .
These were just my team suggrstions for my country and the final team will be taken by Our National Team only who knows much more than me ; this was just My Humble Preview for My Captain . Just one suggestion I will surely give is to don’t reoeat the mistakes committed in South Africa , preferring ISHANT over BHUVI and ROHIT over RAHANE . Rest only we have to keep Calm , not to loose cool and just be in perfect mindset . We will put our everything in this Tour to redefine Indian Cricket and bring our Overseas Glory back . Apart from it I will not suggest anything else as they are Our TEAM and as they are there they know better than us all . Just do your Best and leave the Rest .
ANGREZON NE HUMPE 200 SAALON TAK RAAJ KIYA ; AB HUMKO MAUKA MILA HAI ; UNHI KE GHAR PAR , UNKE PUBLIC KE SAAMNE , UN KE KING KE AAGE UNKO HARAYEGA AUR APNA 200 SAALON KA GULAAMI KA BADLA LEGA … !!!!!
JAI HIND
ARUNESH SINHA
