When the Chairman of the Indian selection committee, MSK Prasad and his team met to select the Indian team for the International Cricket Council World Cup 2019 (WC19), they did not have much on their plate.
The team, almost all, was already ‘selected’ and the discussions were expected to be about two positions. The number four in the middle order and the selection of the second wicket keeper.
The number four slot went to Vijay Shankar who was in contention with Ambati Rayudu while the other place was filled in by Dinesh Karthik, labeled ‘finisher’ by the Indian captain Virat Kohli.
Chairman Prasad justified Shankar’s selection as the player offering three dimensions - batsman, bowler and a fabulous fielder, in his words. He added that Karthik and Kedar Jadhav could be the other batsmen available for the slot, depending on the choice of the team management.
In short, if one reads between the lines, it is still not certain who will walk out at the fall of the second wicket. It could be either of the three mentioned above or an ageing Mahendra Singh Dhoni who would be tasked to play the pivotal role batting at number four. Traditionally, two positions — numbers three and four — are ideally filled with batsmen who can play ‘stable innings’ the type that milks bowlers in the middle overs, sans power play.
Shankar, who was not in the radar of selectors a while ago, has climbed up the ladder quickly after he got the chance to wear the blue colours due to the absence of Hardik Pandya during India’s last tour of Australia and New Zealand.
For someone who has scored 165 runs in five innings at an average of 33 runs being slotted as a prospective number four in the cricket world’s most valued tournament is a huge promotion.
One was expecting the selectors to pick Rayudu or Shreyas Iyer or an experienced Ajinkya Rahane in a position that, more often than not, requires a balanced innings. The fact that Shankar can add a bit more value in terms of his trundlers, tilted the balance in his favour. Having said that, the 28-year old all rounder who plays for Tamil Nadu will need to rejig his batting style from that of a pinch hitter to one around whom an innings is built.
Picking Karthik for the second wicket keepers position was expected as young Rishabh Pant’s recent, impetuous showing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and against Australia in the One Day Internationals (ODIs) went against him. The move, derided by former India and a few international players, shows that the selectors believed in the safety first aspect rather than putting a ‘punt’ on Pant.
Prasad made it clear that Karthik or Pant will come in only if Dhoni is injured and the ability to handle pressure better made Karthik the ideal candidate for that spot. While the last point is a matter of debate, Prasad and co. forgot that Pant had replaced Karthik in England in the third Test at Nottingham, thanks to Karthik’s continuing struggle with the gloves and the bat in English conditions.
The current Indian squad could have done with one more left handed batsman who could certainly help with his explosive batting if increasing the net run rate ever becomes a need.
Among the others who missed out on selection for WC19 is Rahane. Understandably, the 30-year old Mumbaikar was not picked by the selectors. His being demoted from the Rajasthan Royals captaincy in the current IPL must have added salt to his wounds.
Once known for his impeccable technique, he last played an ODI for India against South Africa at the Centurion a little over a year ago. Post his last unbeaten innings of 34 runs in that match, Rahane has not found a place in the Indian ODI side since.
Constant chopping and changing in his batting position over the past few years have taken a toll on the promising batsman who will be remembered for the magnificent 103 runs he scored at Lord’s in 2014. The five years post that innings has taken a toll on Rahane whose performances have been akin to the route taken by a roller coaster.
His recent decision to apply to play for Hampshire in the English County championship in May this year may just be the panacea he needs to resurrect his career like it did for the other steady Indian technician, Cheteshwar Pujara.
The fifteen member team picked for WC19 looks balanced and Prasad, in his own words, has stated that they ‘have covered all the bases’ to maintain the balance. Time will tell if they have got it right or will it be another case of the team balance on paper.
