India sorely lack pace allrounders: Ex-players
Irfan was one of the best all-rounders India had
By : s. bagawati prasad
Update: 2014-10-14 03:42 GMT
Chennai: A glance at the team composition of India and the visiting West Indies reveal a startling difference in the department of medium-pace all-rounders. Even though the conditions are spinners-friendly in India, the Caribbeans have brought a truck-load of medium-pace all-rounders who have a crucial role to play in ODIs.
M.S. Dhoni has an option in all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, but he would do well to remember that the Saurashtra man might work well as a restrictive bowler at the 2015 World Cup in Australia.
With the pitches down under unlikely to aid India’s strength spin the presence of a pace bowling all-rounder is of paramount importance for them to defend the title.
Quality all-rounders such as Mohinder Amarnath, Roger Binny and Kapil Dev formed the bedrock of India’s success at the 1983 World Cup in England. In recent times, the selectors have entrusted Stuart Binny with the job.
Another option apart from the 30-year-old Karnataka player is Irfan Pathan. Between the two, the former didn’t seem to have earned the confidence of Dhoni in the lone ODI he played under him and it became quite evident during the Test series in England as Dhoni used Binny, the bowler, sparingly.
Binny’s only noteworthy show of 6/4 came under the leadership of Suresh Raina against hapless Bangladesh. On the other hand, Irfan was a mere shadow of his supreme past during the 2014 IPL and he has been recovering from an injury since the end of the tournament.
Former India bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad said: “The presence of a pace bowling all-rounder will be a definite advantage for India at the World Cup, but I don’t see a quality medium-pace all-rounder at the moment. If there is one, then that player could well be shuffled along with Jadeja in Australia. Unfortunately there isn’t any.”
Prasad rued Irfan’s injury. “It’s a big setback. Undoubtedly, Irfan was one of the best all-rounders we had. After coming out of the injury, his performances aren’t impressive,” he added.
“It’s up to the selectors to pick the best all-rounder available. The options are limited. Rather than selecting a player for the sake of filling up the crucial position, it’s better to go with players who are in form,” he added.
Former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad echoed Prasad in his opinion on how the absence of a useful medium pace all rounder could hurt Team India at the World Cup.
He wants to see Irfan in the flight to Australia if he is passed fit. “That he is a left-armer is a handy variation. Irfan can swing the new ball and has a played in Australia. Though Binny is a promising cricketer, I would go with Irfan because of the experience he brings to the table,” added Gaekwad.