WTC: 2023-25

[SAPPORO]

Resident Indian team whitewashed by a couple of NRIs. Back in the day, a lot of established star players including the coach were sacked if something remotely close happened. I guess the times have changed now.
Big drubbing awaits India in Australia with the kind of form they are in - time to bring back test batters like Pujara, Rahane and groom youngsters like Ruturaj, Easwaran and others.

[Returning_Indian]

Pujara and Rahane were done deal even long back. They were complete failures in their previous adventures. India batting has not clicked in test matches for many years now. It's was always non-batters coming to rescue. All this is probably effect of IPL. India needs to choose players who specialise in test cricket and are focused on domestic cricket as well. Current crop is purely meant for T20 type of cricket. They can come to India play T20, do adverts, make money and go back to their posh London homes for rest of the time. Their presence in test is obligatory at best.

[SAPPORO]

Pujara and Rahane were done deal even long back. They were complete failures in their previous adventures. India batting has not clicked in test matches for many years now. It's was always non-batters coming to rescue. All this is probably effect of IPL. India needs to choose players who specialise in test cricket and are focused on domestic cricket as well. Current crop is purely meant for T20 type of cricket. They can come to India play T20, do adverts, make money and go back to their posh London homes for rest of the time. Their presence in test is obligatory at best.

Pujara and Rahane averaged much better than Rohit and Kohli in their last 10 tests and moreover they are the least impacted by T20 cricket. The main reason why India won against Aus in Aus last time was Pujara's grit and defense according to the Aus skipper Tim Paine and I totally agree with him having watched almost every ball of that tour.
https://www.wionews.com/cricket/not-ris ... our-772060

[SAPPORO]

Historic win for India at Perth especially after the unimaginable 3-0 whitewash at home and the paltry 150 they scored in the first innings.
Indian batters and bowlers do much better these days on fast pitches than the slow turners. Hopefully, Aussies don't "drop-in" pitches from Sri Lanka for the upcoming tests!

[Returning_Indian]

It's about time that Kohli and Rohit make way for new generation. Ashwin saw the writing on the wall and made gracious exit. Kohli and Rohit are turning into Dhoni where everyone was just waiting for him to retire. Their performance is sub par for very long time and they are not reliable anymore. It's better team starts grooming some other players who can take the torch forward. India's top 5 has been it's weakness for last so many years. Jaiswal shows good promise. They need to groom a few more like him.

[SAPPORO]

It's about time that Kohli and Rohit make way for new generation. Ashwin saw the writing on the wall and made gracious exit. Kohli and Rohit are turning into Dhoni where everyone was just waiting for him to retire. Their performance is sub par for very long time and they are not reliable anymore. It's better team starts grooming some other players who can take the torch forward. India's top 5 has been it's weakness for last so many years. Jaiswal shows good promise. They need to groom a few more like him.

Agree with you that it's high time for Rohit and Kohli to retire/dropped. But MSD retired in the middle of a series from tests when he was just 33 and in his last ODI game, he almost took India to the WC 2019 finals (from 24-4)!
I still have hopes for this MCG test since India's main batters Pant, Jadeja, Sundar and Reddy are not out yet.

[JINSAKAI]

It's about time that Kohli and Rohit make way for new generation. Ashwin saw the writing on the wall and made gracious exit. Kohli and Rohit are turning into Dhoni where everyone was just waiting for him to retire. Their performance is sub par for very long time and they are not reliable anymore. It's better team starts grooming some other players who can take the torch forward. India's top 5 has been it's weakness for last so many years. Jaiswal shows good promise. They need to groom a few more like him.

Agree with you that it's high time for Rohit and Kohli to retire/dropped. But MSD retired in the middle of a series from tests when he was just 33 and in his last ODI game, he almost took India to the WC 2019 finals (from 24-4)!
I still have hopes for this MCG test since India's main batters Pant, Jadeja, Sundar and Reddy are not out yet.

Reddy to Aussies, "Zukega Nahi Saala ... " ...

[SAPPORO]

It's about time that Kohli and Rohit make way for new generation. Ashwin saw the writing on the wall and made gracious exit. Kohli and Rohit are turning into Dhoni where everyone was just waiting for him to retire. Their performance is sub par for very long time and they are not reliable anymore. It's better team starts grooming some other players who can take the torch forward. India's top 5 has been it's weakness for last so many years. Jaiswal shows good promise. They need to groom a few more like him.

Agree with you that it's high time for Rohit and Kohli to retire/dropped. But MSD retired in the middle of a series from tests when he was just 33 and in his last ODI game, he almost took India to the WC 2019 finals (from 24-4)!
I still have hopes for this MCG test since India's main batters Pant, Jadeja, Sundar and Reddy are not out yet.

Reddy to Aussies, "Zukega Nahi Saala ... " ...

Great show by Reddy and company! Upset with Bumrah since he batted like Rohit and needs to be dropped

[SAPPORO]

Jaiswal owes a century for all easy catches he dropped - some might argue that he dropped them because of the incessant yelling from the "fat and the fit one" (Rohit and Virat). But Jaiswal should have no such excuses while batting since the "fat and fit one" won't be yelling at him so much, as they usually get out in a few balls!

Great exhibition of fast bowling by Bumrah and it's one for the ages - not sure what happened though when I was sleeping as the Aussie last pair put on 55 runs.

[SAPPORO]

South Africa qualified for the WTC final with their tense win today over Pak. They were 99-8 needing 148 to win and won by 2 wickets. I guess these are the days of tailenders.
Now it would be either Ind or Aus facing them in the finals based on how it turns out at the MCG today. SL has a slim chance as well.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sou ... eport-day4