| MUMBAI: India began their 'home run' this season on the back of retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. And with two Tests to go before it concludes, they are without Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir too. Both, ultimately, paid the price for having gradually lost form over a period of time. While MS Dhoni and Co seem to have found the replacements for stalwarts like Dravid and Laxman, do they have the back-up to replace what was a successful opening pair? Do they have it in them to shut the door on Sehwag and Gambhir for good, or will they make us miss them all the more? Can they justify the selectors' faith in their abilities, and more importantly, justify their decision to axe both Gambhir and Sehwag? The answers will lie in the quality of the replacements. Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane have all shown the spark at some time or the other to come good. If you want to peep more into the future, there is Unmukt Chand, who led the India U-19 team to a World Cup triumph with a magnificent hundred in the final, and recently hit a ton in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final. Vijay, in fact, now has two hundreds against Australia in Test cricket. Wi th India 2-0 up against the Aussies, most experts agree this is the ideal time to try out the next generation of India's openers. "You tried Pujara in Dravid's place, and he scored two double hundreds and almost a 1000 runs in his first 11 Tests. You have to build a team like that," says former India batsman Pravin Amre. Former India coach Lalchand Rajput believes this is the chance for those waiting in the wings to seal their spots. "Consistency will be the key for them," Rajput says. Former India opener WV Raman too lauds the selectors for 'having an eye on the future.' "You can go back to that favourite line that experience matters, but it is better to try these youngsters now, then abroad," he stresses. Vijay's 167 at Hyderabad, in particular, offers plenty of hope. "Vijay is a good timer of the ball. If he gets his cover drive going, and shows his full face of the bat, you know he is in a good nick. I loved the way he batted in Hyderabad. He took his own tim e to get set. Even Pujara was outscoring him, but it didn't ruffle him," says Amre. "I liked the way he changed his approach once he realised that he was playing for his place," compliments Raman. The same Vijay, however, managed just 72 runs in six innings on the Windies tour in 2011-12. However, Virat Kohli failed on that tour but bounced back in Australia later. Vijay will hope for similar luck on the SA tour. Dhawan could make his Test debut as soon as the Mohali Test against the Aussies, and it will be interesting to see whether he makes use of the long-awaited opportunity. "He is a fluent batsman and offers the advantage of a left-right combo at the top," says Amre. "Both Vijay and Dhawan must continue to bat naturally," feels Raman. Many feel that Ajinkya Rahane can turn out to be a successful opener too. "He has the technique and temperament for Test cricket. He has batted at No. 3 and must try to play as an opener," says Rajput. "He should, and wil l do, whatever the team demands. He has that experience of facing the new ball," says Amre. An era may just have ended. They must wait for another to begin.  via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE2vOo7BtJdeLmDZCvLYlwLFXRpfg&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/australia-in-india-2013/top-stories/Indias-new-opening-pair-gears-up-to-face-the-test/articleshow/18857683.cms | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|
No comments:
Post a Comment