After a long gap of more than eight months, the Indian cricket team will finally take the field when they play Australia in a three-match ODI, three-match T20I and a four-match Test series. The first ODI will commence from November 27, and we have a look at the SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis of the Indian team that will be led by Virat Kohli.
Team India ODI squad:
Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (vice-captain & wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur
Strengths
Team India always had a problem of plenty as far as their middle order was concerned. The side have finally managed to fix the conundrum, especially at number four, as Shreyas Iyer has fared well in the limited opportunities that have been given to him. Despite the absence of Rohit Sharma, who will miss the upcoming series due to a hamstring injury, the top three bears a formidable look, with Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (expected to open) and Virat Kohli. Dhawan and Mayank were in sensational form in the recent Indian Premier League, while Kohli is one of the best players in the format, and he will be eager to leave his mark against the tough rivals.
KL Rahul will be the wicket-keeper and has done well across positions in the last few international series, while Hardik Pandya will be the finisher. The bench strength also wears a formidable look, with Shubman Gill and Manish Pandey in the set-up.
The bowling too looks threatening, with the duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami capable of troubling the rivals continuously with their yorkers and pacey variations across the innings.
Weaknesses
The biggest weakness in the Indian cricket team is the presence of Kuldeep Yadav, who has looked a pale shadow of his former self in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League. He did not have the best outing this season either, and was benched by his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders midway through the season, with Varun Chakravarthy taking his place in the XI.
The fact that Pandya will not be bowling could also prove to be a big weak link. The Baroda player has not been bowling after his back surgery, which means that no player in the top six can turn his arm over. This affects the balance of the side, as the team will only field five bowlers – which leaves very little margin for error. While Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Yuzvendra Chahal are sure shots in the XI, the fifth bowler will be a toss up between Shardul Tahakur or Navdeep Saini. The duo were in good nick in the recently concluded Indian Premier League, but lack consistency and are often prone to leaking runs in the death overs, which could undo all the good work of the other bowlers.
Opportunities
The biggest opportunity awaits Mayank Agarwal, who is expected to open the innings alongside Shikhar Dhawan in the absence of Rohit Sharma. The Kings XI Punjab player had a good run in the IPL, and gave his team steady starts match after match, and will be keen to correct his average ODI record in the three games. Shubman Gill, who finds a place in the squad, has been touted as a future star in the making, and if he is given a chance, he will be eager to grasp on to his opportunities and leave a big mark.
A big opportunity has also presented itself to both Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur. The duo blew hot and cold during the IPL, but were picked nonetheless to tour Australia. They will have plenty of responsibility on their shoulders, as the fact that there is no bowler in the top six means that there will hardly be any room for big errors. The conditions Down Under will favour the duo, and if they can impress, they might open the door for more chances in the near future.
Threats
Hardik Pandya’s injury and the fact that he will be unable to bowl has hurt the balance of the Indian XI. Ravindra Jadeja is now the sole all-rounder in the side, and is a sure-shot selection, but he did not have the best outing with the ball in the recent IPL. While Chahal, Bumrah and Shami will lead the bowling attack, the outcome of the series could well depend on how well Jadeja and the third seamer fare.
Also Read: Shreyas Iyer has got the potential to lead India one day: Alex Carey
