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There is a big World T20 semi-final in India on Thursday but before the 6:30pm toss, MS Dhoni and Team Director Ravi Shastri have some difficult decisions to make.
Firstly, they have to read the Mumbai pitch correctly and decide what to do – bat first or bowl?
Then comes the difficult decision.
India, who have fielded the same XI in each of their four Super-10s stage matches, will for the first time be forced to make a change. Yuvraj Singh, who played a useful-if-unconvincing knock in the do-or-die clash against Australia, was ruled out of the competition because of the ankle injury he sustained in that match.
On Wednesday afternoon, the BCCI announced that the all-rounder was ruled out of whatever little action is left in the WT20 2016 and Manish Pandey was named as replacement.
Negi, The First Pick?
The predicament Dhoni and Shastri are faced with now is, who do they call in to fill the void left by Yuvraj?
If one were to look at a like-for-like replacement, then the one-international-cap Pawan Negi should walk into the XI. But while Yuvraj was in the XI as a batsman who could roll his arm over, Negi is someone who can do a bit of both. Negi is not a number five or six batsman – which Yuvraj was - and on most occasions the captain will not get more than two overs out of him.
Further, in addition to the spin bowling options among the regular bowlers, Dhoni can also get an over or two out of Suresh Raina and hence one isn’t sure if Dhoni will want another spinning option available to him.
Rahane or Pandey?
The two other options available to the Indian captain are Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey. And there isn’t too much that separates the two apart from the fact that the former is more experienced at the international level.
Rahane and Manish are both fantastic batsmen and have earned their right to play at the international level, both are outstanding fielders wherever they are placed in the field and both can win matches on their own.
The similarities extend further to the fact that both are not accustomed to batting in the middle order; while Rahane has batted the bulk of his T20 career as opener, Manish has generally batted in the three.
And therein lies the predicament for the team management.
Come Thursday, Team India management will have to consider the numbers above, in addition to several other factors, before arriving at a decision on who will take Yuvraj’s place.
Other Factors for Dhoni & Shastri to Consider
- Playing surface
- Weakness of opposition
- Player Body language
- Big-match temperament
- Player comfort against West Indies bowlers
- Player record while playing at the Wankhede Stadium
If I were called to make a decision, I would plump for Manish Pandey, understanding fully well it would be grossly unfair to Rahane. Why?
- I was mesmerised by the way Manish batted in the nets on the eve of the match.
- His last innings in India colours was a match-winning century (while Rahane was dismissed for a Blob in the Asia Cup)
- Big match temperament. Remember his cracking century in the IPL 2009, his performance in knockout matches in the Ranji Trophy, and his hunger to performance against quality opposition and when the stakes are high (Ask the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team!)
After considering all of the factors, it could finally come down to the captain’s comfort level with the player. We know what Dhoni thinks about Rahane - the T20 cricketer. Will that come to deciding who makes the XI in the crucial World T20 semi-final?
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