VIRAT’S CONUNDRUM- CHOOSING THE ELEVEN

Virat Kohli led India to its first test series win in Sri Lanka after a gap of 22 years; kudos to him and the team. But a very difficult challenge awaits them in the form of the South African’s, who visit India for a 72 day tour that comprises of three twenty-20, five ODI’s and four tests. This series also takes historic significance as from here on in all future bilateral series between the two countries will be called Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela series. And Freedom Trophy is the name given to the 4 test match series being played between the two countries with the first test commencing from 5^th November at Mohali.

Now comes to the tricky part; Virat’s playing eleven that takes the field for the first test? The biggest factor that contributed to India’s 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka was up to a number of players that owned up responsibility and made a statement. Actually circumstances and fate played its part in giving them opportunity but full marks to them for making that chance count. Be it Vijay in the second test when he replaced the injured Dhawan who incidentally scored a ton in the first test, Rahane who scored a century in the second test despite being forced to bat at number 3 so as to accommodate Rohit in the team, Pujara who couldn’t get a look in the team was forced to open in the third test when both the regular openers Vijay and Dhawan were injured, Umesh Yadav who replaced the wayward Varun in the second test took important wickets at crucial junctures,  Mishra whose fine bowling all through the series elevated him from third choice spinner in the team to being India’s second highest wicket taker behind Ashwin  and not to forget Ojha how seamlessly took the wicket keeping responsibility in the third test after Saha’s injury.

Taking into consideration that everyone is fit for selection; let’s take Virat’s predicament of choosing the eleven.  Let’s begin with the batting starting with the openers and one-down; will the captain take the tried and tested notion of giving experience precedence over youth and go with Vijay and Dhawan? Or will he give Rahul a well deserved run? After-all Rahul has scored two centuries in four tests. What will they say to Pujara who scored the series winning century as opener in the last match? Then there is Rahane, the current fall guy of the team. Will he be told to make the number 3 spot his own? Or will Rahane be slotted back to his customary number 5 position in turn bringing Pujara at one down? Number 4 spot is nailed down to Virat.  After that comes the main point of conjecture; Rohit’s position in the team? Should he or should he not be in the team; obviously the team’s-think tank wants to continue with Rohit hence demoting him to number 5 after his failures in the first test at top of the order. To be fair to Virat he did score two fifties coming at number 5; but is it enough?  For the wicket-keeper spot, will Saha be given preference over Ojha? Selecting the batting will be a herculean task for Virat and the think tank. 

Coming to bowling, which has become the most talked about topic under Virat’s captaincy.

By the sounds coming in the media the 5 bowler theory will be persisted which is good thing as the ability to take 20 wickets regularly increases the team chances to win test matches.  And having five bowlers instead of four gives Virat another option to play with. Will Virat stick with Binny as the all rounder? Binny did exceedingly well with his limited capabilities but will he be as effective as he was in Sri Lanka were the pitches assisted his sort of bowling or will Harbhajan be selected taking into consideration that traditionally Indian pitches are more helpful for the spinners. On the basis of the last series Ashwin and Mishra select themselves. Finally the two fast bowlers; Ishant, who unlike him had a very good and rewarding series will be barred from playing the first test against South Africa as a punishment for his on field antics. The sad part is that for once Ishant was living up to his billing as the leader of the fast bowling pack. So will Shami be back after his long absence because of the injury which forced him out of cricket since the last ODI 50-overs world cup in Australia to shoulder the new ball responsibility along with Yadav? Or will Virat give the first test to Varun again as he had previously done in Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Although selecting the bowler seems somewhat less tedious job.

All we can do is to wait and watch how Virat and the think tank complete this jigsaw puzzle. Who said, problem of plenty is always a good think.