ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE PART 3

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ODI CRICKET -

The World Cup is in India. So from a short term point of view, it is good that the crux of the Indian ODI team's middle order today loves to play on the sub-continental pitches. With Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gambhir, I do not find the need to tinker with the top 3 positions. India has found success in their formula of 4 specialist bowlers + 1 part time all rounder type spinner. The 4 bowlers are likely to be Zaheer, Nehra, Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar. The part time spinnig allrounder is likely to be Yusuf Pathan. The 4 middle order positions are likely to be filled by Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli / Rohit Sharma.

I know that the ball will not bounce a lot in the sub-continent... but I still feel that Yusuf Pathan should have been dropped from India's team to Zimbabwe and instead, included in India A's team to England. That would have been beneficial for him in a big way! Selectors need to give enough opportunities to the other fringe players as well... so that they can be ready as replacements in the event of an injury. Considering the amount of cricket we are playing, injuries are very likely to happen.

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