Archive for the ‘Irfan Pathan’ Category
Our Pathan, their Pathan
“I want to be part of Indian Test side”. Said Pathan few days back.
“Mera bhai Irfan, mera chota bhai Irfan, Shivan(g)i ka pati Irfan, mere pitaji ka beta Irfan is excluded from Indian ODI team for non cricketing reasons. Selectors ki maa ki……….”
“I didnt say anything on my chota bhai Irfan. Wo to kuch journos ne mujhe mithai khila di to maine khushi me majak kar diya”. He said today.
Koi gal nahi Yusuf Pathan bhai, just remember one thing you are not ex player, you are current player. Yadi ODI cricket khelna hai to bhai apne performance par dhyan do aur selectors ko gaali dena chod do. Kisi selector ka dimag ka dahi ho gaya to bhiya aap apni jagah kho baithenge and MS bhai bhi kuch nahi kar payenge. So thoda bach ke rahiyo. Apni jagah banaye rakho aur match jeetate raho.
So no more blabbering in anger sir…..
Preview to the Ind vs WI game
“We had options for back-up openers, Yusuf and I were also spoken about. But Rohit was in good form in the IPL and has grabbed his chance with both hands”
MS was speaking on the options for opening in absence of Viru. Heavens gracious, he didn’t open. Just imagine what would have been the reaction if MS was opening. Flood gates would have been opened. He is reeled for coming at # 3, he is being accused of leaking the news and being arrogant with the media. He is now no more the captain kewl.
Rohit Sharma has been pretty decent with the opening spot in England. However he must soon realize that opening is not his cup of tea and its just that he is filling in for Viru in his absence. Ditto for DK. His first test comes today when he takes on his Deccan Chargers team mate Fidel Edwards (subject to play) in the first super 8 game India plays tonite against West Indies at Lord’s. Yes the same ground where 26 years ago India beat WI by 43 runs to win their World Cup.
India would have one challenge to stop Gayle, who has tormented them in the past since 2002 or even old since 1999. Remember the Singapore tri-series followed by Toronto 3 game series when Ganguly first time captained India. Another question India would need to find an answer to is the place of Irfan Pathan. He has been pathetic with the ball. If he opens the bowling today, Gayle is for sure to run away with game. May be Praveen Kumar would be an option to go with as he swings the ball and gets more wickets than Irfan does. Yeah India would lose a batting all-rounder, but then there is enough firepower in the batting department.
India’s Kirris Gayle
And next to follow the suite could be:
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Sreesanth
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Irfan Pathan
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RP Singh
And Pragyan Ojha could never debut in Tests, not that he would not be selected. Just that he might not find 5 days in the field too interesting and economically viable.
I dont say this on any facts or basis of analysis. But on the hunch and a pattern that goes into this lads way of cricket.
Delhi DareDevils vs Punjab Kings Update
No McGrath. Why ?
First tactical break now. Sehwag has been in Napier mode for the captaincy. The bowlers he has trusted to get the breakthrough havent been to the mark. They have pitched in too short and that has given free hand to Goel and Bopara to go for runs. 67 runs in 6 overs would mean 150 odd in 12 overs. That would setup a great contest and that would mean the hottest pair (cricket wise) in international cricket would have their task cut out.
And Danny boy strikes off first ball. Bopara gone lbw. Vetts is the best bet for wickets and stopping the runs in T20. In short, the Vetts boy is the best in business for T20. Meanwhile King Sangakara is being troubled by Danny for 2 balls in row. Things seem to be turning now. It would be interesting to see how Yuvraj takes on Danny which most prolly would now happen in 9th over. Spinners have had more success this iPL than fast bowlers. Kumble, Warne, Bhajji, Jaya and now Danny.
Second Innings:
Sehwag and Gambhir are on. No Warner, no McGrath. Delhi batting looks good. Following this 2, there is Dilshan, AB, Tiwary, Karthik (LOL) and Danny boy. First up Pathan and Sanga stands up to the stumps. Will Pathan get some swing and force his way back to this earlier reputation of 2003-05. Now will Gambhir will walk down ? First boundary. Pace is lacking. One more. 9 now in first over. Looking to Sehwag and Gambhir, I rememeber Sholay evergreen song
3rd pacer and best Indian lineup
And guess what Rohit Sharma would make a comeback. Bloody ridiculous. And Sachin felt this was the best batting line up he ever had ? Did he forget Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid ? Replace Raina with Saurav and Pathan with Rahul, there you go the best batting line up India ever had. 2003 World cup. Yes Saurav gets it right. Mentioning fact is one thing and motivating the team is other thing.
Good opportunity for India to win the series tomorrow. But thats possible when the replacement for 163 works.
T20 updates: I
Dhoni was lucky with toss in SL in 4 games. He won all those games. Mahela won the 5th toss and the game. Vettori won the 1st T20 toss and won the game. He has won the toss in 2nd game too. Will he win ? Thank God Rohit Sharma is gone. Yipeeeeee. Ravinder Jadeja comes in for him. What if he plays well today ? Will he still be sent home ? Or will he replace Rohit Sharma or Dinesh Karthik ?
We all set for 2nd of the 2 T20s of the series. Can India break its T20 jinx against this lowly Kiwi team ? Will the so called Rockstars of Indian cricket rock or rock off in over confidence ? Somehow Indians sounded rash and rude in 1st defeat. So that answers my mate from Colombo who wanted to listen my views on Indian defeat in Kiwi land.
Irfan Pathan continues to be an enigma. From what he was to what he is now. He is hurting India’s chances in every game India plays. But then there is no bowler with his batting prowess.
Match gets underway
Sehwag on fire. 10 balls 24. 5 fours. Difference from other day. 10 balls 26 runs, 3 sixes. Today he is grounded. Hopefully he remains and realizes he has to stay back.
Gambhir seems edgy. He gotta have patience. He should stick around. Runs would come by.
Sehwag gone. Freakish hell.
Raina gone too. Now would he and Rohit Sharma go for partying ? Beer and babes ? Very much. Why not we just throw them out of the team ?
Yuvraj floors England…..High talks Punctured..
India managed to beat England comprehensively and crushingly. 158 runs is a huge margin. Just 20 more than what Yuvraj managed. Not only India did make its higghest score at home, 2nd highest overall but also got England skittled out to its 3rd heaviest defeat in ODIs. That not only punctured high talks from Geofrrey Boycott, but also proved that India is better equipped to change gears from Test mode to ODI mode.
As many as 5 players are playing ODI series after the Aussie Test series….And frankly speaking 7 ODIs across length and breadth of country at obscure venues like Guwahati or Rajkot is too much to ask for. Why not a 5 ODI and 3 test series ?
This should be a long term comeback for Yuvraj not only out of the prolonged batting slump, but also as one of the worthy contender for the Test spot left by his mentor Saurav Ganguly. Right now Yuvraj seems the best choice to fit in the gap. India not only got good opening partnership at the top, but also the middle order kept the runs flowing. Again an victory where everybody contributed except YP. I am not sure if he deserves his place in the team. Irfan would be more better to be in the team for his useful batting skills.
England got to do a soul searching mode in the next 2 days when they play next ODI at venue where they lost comfortably in 2006 in Indore — my home town on a new built wonderful stadium. Freddie , Colly and Bell will have to be among runs and so would Harmison, Anderson to stop leaking the runs……
Today was Yuvraj’s day. But would he be fit for 2nd ODI ? Watching oDIs now is a bit of boring after being used to 5 day Razmattaazzz
