There has been a distinct lack of clarity on whom we want to play, how we want to play, in white ball cricket in the last five years. Kohli was a monster chaser pre-2018. He has lost that with his captaincy which has exposed our batting even further. Who is our opener, middle order, spinner - no clue? It is like every series they are trying something and discarding. The world cup is in 18 months and are we reverting back to KL Rahul, Dhawan opening? Is Hardik Pandya still an allrounder- or rather an allrounder who doesn't bowl but doesn't contribute with the bat also. Last world cup we were experimenting with our lineups into the semifinal also and I think it is going to be the same this time around also.
When Rohit comes back, what happens to Dhawan? What did we learn by playing Dhawan? He is a good solid player who will score at slightly less than run a ball - another accumulator in the Rahul mould. Why not try out a younger player like Ishan, Ruturaj given that we have lost the series anyways.
Jason Roy's 40 in 20-25 balls is more valuable than Rahul and Dhawan's 60 in 70 balls. Somehow India has not gotten the memo.
The part which bewilders me is that the media is completely silent on this. Everyone is focusing on the "start" which the big three gave and insinuating the people who came in lower did not play their part. No one is talking about the fact that the top 3 has been scoring consistently less than the required run rate, even in power plays and when Pant comes in, there is pressure on him to score at a strike rate of 150 plus. Looks like it is going to be the same strategy in the world cup also. Pant and Jadeja will have to score 100-130 runs consistently at a strike rate of 150 plus between 35 to 50 overs for us to make a mark.
And if our top 4 is Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli, Rahul - then I don't think I am even going to bother buying the world cup TV package to watch it.
