<p>Nor for that matter Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. We still have an Indian team against Australia. Albeit in one-dayers. Dravid and Laxman haven’t been part of India’s one-day plans. But the rest are integral to its make-up. <br /><br />These regulars, in most cases, have been allowed a break because selectors must have their back-ups. Indian selectors clearly now have a road-map. They are looking into the future.<br /><br />Two issues must be key to their plans. One, India clearly needs a bench-strength for the 2011 World Cup. Two, they can’t overuse their thoroughbreds in all formats of the game. Who knows, in the immediate future, India might have a separate Test and one-day team! This is improbable at the moment. It might not be so if Indian youngsters clean up Australia by Sunday. A lot can happen in a week in this game, as we know.<br /><br />This must kick off our young lads. They have a career waiting to happen. For someone like Yuvraj Singh, it’s an opportunity to announce he is back with a vengeance. Yuvraj is gradually getting marginalized in Test cricket. First Suresh Raina, and now Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, have better odds than him in the longer format of the game.<br /><br />His double century in the Irani Cup was a pointer to his inner rage. He is a wounded lion who can hurt Australia. Rohit Sharma has a similar predicament. His immediate career is hanging by a thread. He didn’t make the most of his opportunities in Sri Lanka. He has got a languid style at the crease -- loose-limbed and wristy, and elegance for all to see. But he chases too many deliveries outside the off-stump. He is also getting leg-before wicket of late. His time is now, or it could be an endless wait.<br /><br />Not so for the likes of Saurabh Tiwary and Vijay, who now are regular back-ups in one-day cricket. Virat Kohli has made strides. Raina too has gained in stature. There still are question marks about how our youngsters shape up to short-pitched deliveries. They look uncomfortable and counter the short stuff with violent, unconvincing pulls. They should take a leaf out of Tendulkar and Sehwag. They don’t pull, yet they get their runs. <br /><br />I would love to see if Vinay Kumar and R Ashwin can push the regulars in bowling. Ashwin is the lone specialist spinner in this squad. He must live up to the billing. He has got a good head on his shoulders. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Nor for that matter Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. We still have an Indian team against Australia. Albeit in one-dayers. Dravid and Laxman haven’t been part of India’s one-day plans. But the rest are integral to its make-up. <br /><br />These regulars, in most cases, have been allowed a break because selectors must have their back-ups. Indian selectors clearly now have a road-map. They are looking into the future.<br /><br />Two issues must be key to their plans. One, India clearly needs a bench-strength for the 2011 World Cup. Two, they can’t overuse their thoroughbreds in all formats of the game. Who knows, in the immediate future, India might have a separate Test and one-day team! This is improbable at the moment. It might not be so if Indian youngsters clean up Australia by Sunday. A lot can happen in a week in this game, as we know.<br /><br />This must kick off our young lads. They have a career waiting to happen. For someone like Yuvraj Singh, it’s an opportunity to announce he is back with a vengeance. Yuvraj is gradually getting marginalized in Test cricket. First Suresh Raina, and now Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, have better odds than him in the longer format of the game.<br /><br />His double century in the Irani Cup was a pointer to his inner rage. He is a wounded lion who can hurt Australia. Rohit Sharma has a similar predicament. His immediate career is hanging by a thread. He didn’t make the most of his opportunities in Sri Lanka. He has got a languid style at the crease -- loose-limbed and wristy, and elegance for all to see. But he chases too many deliveries outside the off-stump. He is also getting leg-before wicket of late. His time is now, or it could be an endless wait.<br /><br />Not so for the likes of Saurabh Tiwary and Vijay, who now are regular back-ups in one-day cricket. Virat Kohli has made strides. Raina too has gained in stature. There still are question marks about how our youngsters shape up to short-pitched deliveries. They look uncomfortable and counter the short stuff with violent, unconvincing pulls. They should take a leaf out of Tendulkar and Sehwag. They don’t pull, yet they get their runs. <br /><br />I would love to see if Vinay Kumar and R Ashwin can push the regulars in bowling. Ashwin is the lone specialist spinner in this squad. He must live up to the billing. He has got a good head on his shoulders. <br /><br /></p>
