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[jks61]

India was cruising when Sehwag and Kaif were toying with the attack and 300+ score looked imminent. But enter Rao (who by the way, had single handedly killed India's chances in the A series with selfish inning after inning that left the strike rate lower and lower) and he spoiled it all. He was unable to get the ball off the square and worst had shown no intentions of even hitting the ball with force. His shaky 2 of 9 balls forced Kaif to accept that call of a risky single off a nervous edgy push to a field straight from Rao. ..and Kaif got run out..Rao single handedly finsihed India's chances. One can argue - why Powar got to Sarwan or why Dhoni messed up, running for a non-existent run but believe me, none of them were slow, shaky, immature like Rao. His entire selection in any ODI squad defies logic since his whole persona is not meant for ODI game. He neither looks confident nor looks the kind of batsmen who can force the pace at any time of the inning. A complete disaster- VEnugopal Rao...

[keep-it-cool]

Hey guys, I know Rao leaves a lot to be desired, but cut him some slack. The slowdown in momentum actually came about after Sehwag was dismissed and Dhoni came in. Kaif got run out almost immediately after Rao came in (within 2 overs). I agree Rao has his faults, but this was not his doing.

[chetan]

IMO, Rao should be replaced by Rohit Sharma. Rao should be left to the domestics and should only (if ever) be considered for the test team... that too if he scores century after century like VVS did in 1996

[keep-it-cool]

Agree with Rao being left out. ROhit Sharma looks good, but not sure he comes in so soon ...

[k-slice]

i agree
i dont think rao was the only culprit. but having said that i am opposed to having him in the team period. he was the past standing batsman and he wasnt playing like that. even when he got runout the run was on. he is a slacker as far as running goes. doest fit into GC's plan of putting your hand up when the situation demands. to the contrary rao puts his hand down in such situations. i think he could be replaced by uthappa in the top order and then shunt dravid back to where he belongs with either raina or kaif coming in where rao used to.

[justforkix]

Rao, Kaif, Dhoni, Pathan, Powar, Agarkar in that order because 1st 2 are in the team as batters. The other 3 are expected to contribute but they are basically bowlers and keepers who can bat.

Rao - no comments

Kaif - responded to an impossible single call by Rao. Kaif managed to come so close to reaching the crease becasue of his speed and dive. Once Sehwag got out, Kaif should have stayed there till the end.

MSD, IP, RP, AA just failed.

[fineleg]

Even though Rao is really unfit for ODIs, today he is only one of the reasons. Many others failed today - list provided by kix is correct. Also while bowling Powar 3 overs 31 runs may have nailed it.
(not to say Powar bowling is bad, but today his bowling had an off-day - he has bowled very well in many matches, so his bowling today deserves to be excused).

[dextrous]

Even though Rao is really unfit for ODIs, today he is only one of the reasons. Many others failed today - list provided by kix is correct. Also while bowling Powar 3 overs 31 runs may have nailed it.
(not to say Powar bowling is bad, but today his bowling had an off-day - he has bowled very well in many matches, so his bowling today deserves to be excused).

Well, he needed to keep things simple, like Gayle and Samuels. He should have bowled flatter and made the batsmen try to hit him. Instead, he was inviting them to go after him. Sarwan plays spin a bit better than Bell or Solanki! The faster India realizes that this isn't the English C team, the better off they will be, minus the inflated egos

[fineleg]

Even though Rao is really unfit for ODIs, today he is only one of the reasons. Many others failed today - list provided by kix is correct. Also while bowling Powar 3 overs 31 runs may have nailed it.
(not to say Powar bowling is bad, but today his bowling had an off-day - he has bowled very well in many matches, so his bowling today deserves to be excused).

Well, he needed to keep things simple, like Gayle and Samuels. He should have bowled flatter and made the batsmen try to hit him. Instead, he was inviting them to go after him. Sarwan plays spin a bit better than Bell or Solanki! The faster India realizes that this isn't the English C team, the better off they will be, minus the inflated egos

Agree that if Powar wants to succeed in ODIs he needs to learn defensive flatter bowling and around legs.
Not just Toss it up Invite the Drive and waltz down the track.

Today Powar is a Toss it up, loop and flight bowler - he needs to learn the defensive bowling.

[thirdman]

Cant single out anybody...
But Rao comes to my mind. Also pathan and power in bowling
I know people will kill me if i said Kaif.. The scorecard says kaif 61... Looks great...
I know there is no if in cricket.. But imagine we had some other player x playing instead of kaif who could keep the momentum...... ??
Kaif may not be responsible for yesterday's mess... But he will be in the future...
IMO both kaif and rao dont deserve to be there...

[achutank]

50% of rao's earnings are depositied with kiran more. yesterday's match is further proof of the same.

rao is  a whore.

more is a big pimp.


and the whole bcci is one big sonagachi.

can't even watch cricket these days, its got to the point of boredom.

[worma]

Even though Rao is really unfit for ODIs, today he is only one of the reasons. Many others failed today - list provided by kix is correct. Also while bowling Powar 3 overs 31 runs may have nailed it.
(not to say Powar bowling is bad, but today his bowling had an off-day - he has bowled very well in many matches, so his bowling today deserves to be excused).

Well, he needed to keep things simple, like Gayle and Samuels. He should have bowled flatter and made the batsmen try to hit him. Instead, he was inviting them to go after him. Sarwan plays spin a bit better than Bell or Solanki! The faster India realizes that this isn't the English C team, the better off they will be, minus the inflated egos

If you'd listened to commentary, you would have realised why bowling flat is a bit tricky for Powar. And we saw the proof also why....whenever he tried..it got short.

Btw..Sarwan is not Bell/Solanki....but he's no Inzy either, no?

[keep-it-cool]

This is really funny .. what we all do, I mean. One match or spell of 3 overs does not make a bowler bad or good or better or worse. Last match this same guy picked up 2 wickets for 30 odd runs, bowling the same way. He bowled the same way throughout the series against Pak and did quite well. Here, he was taken on and the batsmen came out on top during those first three overs. He basically invoked a risky shot ... and by definition a risky approach can either get you in trouble or get you a high return ... and in this case, Sarwan and Gayle got the maximum return.

[k-slice]

KIC
THE POINT ISNT THAT WE SHOULD JUDGE HIM BY ONE PERFORMANCE. I REALLY HTINK HE IS A GREAT BOWLER. THE POINT IS THAT HE NEEDS TO LEARN TO ADAPT TO SITUATIONS. I AM SURE HE WILL FOR HE SEEMS TO HAVE GOOD SURVIVAL INSTINCTS.
osrry about the caps. too lazy to rewrite it.

[OldPal]

IMO, Rao should be replaced by Rohit Sharma. Rao should be left to the domestics and should only (if ever) be considered for the test team... that too if he scores century after century like VVS did in 1996

I would like rao to be replaced with SG.No I don't  want to start any controversy, but if SG is still alive and trying to play international cricket - He already has lot of qualities - that these new faces need to be groomed with. atleast till WC-07 . Then do whatever you like.

[JJ]

Rao should be kicked out Team India - the guy is a selfish batsman who puts me to sleep.
Don;t know what GC/More see in him -

[CLR James]

It seems that only one youngster can still take the Windies with a storm. Kaif.....Katrina Kaif.

[ruchir]

I see many poiting at Rao to be the most popular reason for the loss of 3rd ODI.

However, if you see things closely, we were 210/3 when Dhoni manage to get himself run-out out of sheer stupidity. And after he got out, we scored only 35 more runs. So, in my opinion, the fall started when Dhoni got out. His stupidity, in fact, echoes in all the wickets that fell subsequently (except Agarkar, I think).

To me, Dhoni is the culprit of this loss.

[sudzz]

I feel Kaif is the culprit and he is responsible not just for his batting which is not too great to say the least, but in ensuring that Dhoni has to play rash strokes.

I dont know how many of you watched all the three matches live, I did and I can tell that Kaif plays at least 2-3 dot balls each over and worse still straight to players. Whats more if any one cares to observe he takes a single either of the 5th or the 6th ball and that makes sure that the bastman at the other end has to take the onus of speeding the scoring rate.

If you see Dhonis dismissal in both matches it was to air fair shots which he had no choice but to play.

This line up is nice and fine but lacks solidity and the absence Tendlya means that he should have been replaced by someone who can hold an innings together while mainting a run a ball rate, in the current context there are a lot of choices but IMHO that the best choice is Ganguly, despite his terrible running between the wickets he can clear boundaries very easily and will relish the bowling of Samuels and Gayle.

[ramshorns]

I feel Kaif is the culprit and he is responsible not just for his batting which is not too great to say the least, but in ensuring that Dhoni has to play rash strokes.

I dont know how many of you watched all the three matches live, I did and I can tell that Kaif plays at least 2-3 dot balls each over and worse still straight to players. Whats more if any one cares to observe he takes a single either of the 5th or the 6th ball and that makes sure that the bastman at the other end has to take the onus of speeding the scoring rate.

If you see Dhonis dismissal in both matches it was to air fair shots which he had no choice but to play.

Spot on with the analysis.  I am glad someone read the game right where it went wrong.   On top of Kaif the inexperience of Venu coupled with failures of Dhoni and Pathan sealed the deal.   Remember after Sehwag's departure they managed 71 from 21.2 overs with 7 wickets in hand and Kaif set, if you can call that.

[justforkix]

I feel Kaif is the culprit and he is responsible not just for his batting which is not too great to say the least, but in ensuring that Dhoni has to play rash strokes.

If you see Dhonis dismissal in both matches it was to air fair shots which he had no choice but to play.

agree with your assessment w.r.t. 1st ODI, but not w.r.t. 3rd ODI. Kaif-Dhoni partnership was 36(51). Out of that MSD's contribution was 15(26) and Kaif's was 21(25) and MSD got out because of some insipid running, not to air fair shots.....

[keep-it-cool]

I feel Kaif is the culprit and he is responsible not just for his batting which is not too great to say the least, but in ensuring that Dhoni has to play rash strokes.

If you see Dhonis dismissal in both matches it was to air fair shots which he had no choice but to play.

agree with your assessment w.r.t. 1st ODI, but not w.r.t. 3rd ODI. Kaif-Dhoni partnership was 36(51). Out of that MSD's contribution was 15(26) and Kaif's was 21(25) and MSD got out because of some insipid running, not to air fair shots.....

good observation, JFK .. anyone who watched the match would have been able to figure out that around the time Sehwag got out, Kaif was pretty much scoring freely and he continued to rotate the strike well. And that is his role, especially when you have the likes of Dhoni and Pathan to follow. If he had gone for a big shot (he did that in the 2nd ODI) and got out, he would have been castigated for not playing his role and rotating the strike to allow the power-hitters to go after the bowling. Again, on Dhoni having to play airy-fairy shots, he had to in the 1st ODI. He did not have to in the 3rd ODI - he was run out, going for a tight single. And Kaif followed immediately after that, again going for a tight single. I, for one, cannot really figure out where Kaif went wrong out here.

[thirdman]

I feel Kaif is the culprit and he is responsible not just for his batting which is not too great to say the least, but in ensuring that Dhoni has to play rash strokes.

If you see Dhonis dismissal in both matches it was to air fair shots which he had no choice but to play.

agree with your assessment w.r.t. 1st ODI, but not w.r.t. 3rd ODI. Kaif-Dhoni partnership was 36(51). Out of that MSD's contribution was 15(26) and Kaif's was 21(25) and MSD got out because of some insipid running, not to air fair shots.....

Am not saying Dhoni is not the culprit.But he has done well so many times in the past.
Kaif's 61 of 89 kinda innings wont help. I had watched the entire innings. He hit 2 fours. One of them is good shot. The other one is of a bad ball down the leg side. all he had to do was put some bat. (he played 10 overs with fielding restrictions)
If somebody else play like this people call it selfish.. Isnt this innings a selfish? Am sure he wud have tried to score 100 had he not got run out.. It wud have been very funny watching kaif and rao bat together. With Kaif expecting Rao to take risks and Rao expecting kaif to hit.:-)
He is a so called sheet anchor.. What is use of sheet anchor if he cant take some risks. And the sheet anchor scores an odd 50 once in a blue moon and they say he is back to form..
Look how sarwan played. I call that a sheet anchor innings. not something like a scratchy 50 ..

[dextrous]

I think the main issue today is this -- is there a place for a batsmen in today's one day cricket who cannot score at least run a ball. When scores of 300 are fast becoming the minimum expectation, it becomes very hard for players like Kaif and Rao to survive. Not so much because they're bad players but because they simply cannot score at that rate. Whether or not, even today, there's a role for the sheet anchor kind of player, remains to be seen. One thing that is clear though is that india cannot have Dravid, Rao, and Kaif in the same team -- along with five bowlers.

[keep-it-cool]

I think the main issue today is this -- is there a place for a batsmen in today's one day cricket who cannot score at least run a ball. When scores of 300 are fast becoming the minimum expectation, it becomes very hard for players like Kaif and Rao to survive. Not so much because they're bad players but because they simply cannot score at that rate. Whether or not, even today, there's a role for the sheet anchor kind of player, remains to be seen. One thing that is clear though is that india cannot have Dravid, Rao, and Kaif in the same team -- along with five bowlers.

On that, I agree. Unless Rao or Kaif reinvents his style. Anyways, I think when SRT and YS are back, both may not be in the XI

[achutank]

a good odi sheet anchor is dravid post 1999.

he scores 15 of 28 balls, 50 off 60 balls and usually by the time he hits a  century its run a  ball. a sheet anchor is one keeps rotating the strike and takes on the ten overs from the danger bowlers.

now can anyone imagine kaif taking on 5 overs from Warne or Asif or McGrath or Ntini. These sheet anchors would need protection themselves. and just for fun we should be priviledged to watch rao play 6 balls of mcgrath. 

has anybody noticed both these guys' stances? kaif is badly balanced (and he is no reflex machine like kris shrikant). and rao looks like a gully cricketer with that stance. nobody can be tendular or gavaskar but they should atleast learn from dravid on the importance of balance in your stance.

[ruchir]

achutank: Kaif stance is horrible, but you know what? It has improved a lot lately. I remember his stance few months ago. He knees would be locked and his feet would not be more than 6-8 inches apart. Now, if you see him, his feet are about 15-18 inches apart (approx) and his knees are nearly locked but not actually so. So, there is improvement but it is still horrible.

[ruchir]

Since we are talking about "anchors", what is an anchor?

An anchor is an object that is tied, on one side, to the ship and the other side, which is heavy, is sunk in the water so that it stops ship from moving.

Ship = team
Anchor = RD, Sarwan

I think using the term "anchor" for RD and Sarwan is a misnomer. They don't hold the team back. This term fits best for guys like Rao. Even Kaif moves along with singles and occasional boudaries.

I think the term "anchor" should be used for those people who are pulling the team back, rather than for those who support the team from one end. For such people, the correct term would be "pillar".

[indcricfan]

The problem I Have with this team even while winnning is lack of variety in spinning

HS, Powar & Sehwag Offspin.

Rao--if he ever bowls off spin---
we missed Yuvi's bowling too.

This we need to fix see if we can get a semi allrounder who can bowl non-offspin and bat a bit like powar. I know it is not murali

[flute202020]

Since we are talking about "anchors", what is an anchor?

An anchor is an object that is tied, on one side, to the ship and the other side, which is heavy, is sunk in the water so that it stops ship from moving.

Ship = team
Anchor = RD, Sarwan

I think using the term "anchor" for RD and Sarwan is a misnomer. They don't hold the team back. This term fits best for guys like Rao. Even Kaif moves along with singles and occasional boudaries.

I think the term "anchor" should be used for those people who are pulling the team back, rather than for those who support the team from one end. For such people, the correct term would be "pillar".

It depends on the perspective. Anchor can also be viewed positively in the sense, it stops the boat from getting lost in header waters. A person anchors the innings so that it is not lost or sunk. Analogy is always about moving.

Anyway, anchor or pillar or wall, I don't think kaif & Venu fit into the ODI team even as back up. If we are considering Venu, I don't see any reason to keep VVS out of contention. SG & VVS can very easily give better options than Kaif or Venu.

[suraj]

I am not sure what crime VVS has committed that he doesn't deserve a place even if Yuvi or Kaif is injured. I think VVS should be part of 15 but only played if Yuvi gets injured. Rao has been given enuff chances and failed.

The only reason VVS can be out is if someone else like Rohit Sharma has to be given an opportunity. So either try a budding youngster and discover a good replacement if one of te permanent fixtures gets injured or is out of form or give the man a chance to re-prove himself (again still a reserve but if Kaif/Yuvi/SRT/RD is out then VVS should get a look in)

[fineleg]

The problem I Have with this team even while winnning is lack of variety in spinning

HS, Powar & Sehwag Offspin.

Rao--if he ever bowls off spin---
we missed Yuvi's bowling too.

This we need to fix see if we can get a semi allrounder who can bowl non-offspin and bat a bit like powar. I know it is not murali

Sachin? But, I dont want him to bowl leggies - slow-medium is good.

[keep-it-cool]

The problem I Have with this team even while winnning is lack of variety in spinning

HS, Powar & Sehwag Offspin.

Rao--if he ever bowls off spin---
we missed Yuvi's bowling too.

This we need to fix see if we can get a semi allrounder who can bowl non-offspin and bat a bit like powar. I know it is not murali

Sachin? But, I dont want him to bowl leggies - slow-medium is good.

doubt sachin will bowl much from here on!

[fineleg]

The problem I Have with this team even while winnning is lack of variety in spinning

HS, Powar & Sehwag Offspin.

Rao--if he ever bowls off spin---
we missed Yuvi's bowling too.

This we need to fix see if we can get a semi allrounder who can bowl non-offspin and bat a bit like powar. I know it is not murali

Sachin? But, I dont want him to bowl leggies - slow-medium is good.

doubt sachin will bowl much from here on!

Thats ominous 

[keep-it-cool]

The problem I Have with this team even while winnning is lack of variety in spinning

HS, Powar & Sehwag Offspin.

Rao--if he ever bowls off spin---
we missed Yuvi's bowling too.

This we need to fix see if we can get a semi allrounder who can bowl non-offspin and bat a bit like powar. I know it is not murali

Sachin? But, I dont want him to bowl leggies - slow-medium is good.

doubt sachin will bowl much from here on!

Thats ominous 

makes sense right .. bowling does affect the shoulder and it is not just the match .. he has to practice in the nets too ... i think he will move on like steve waugh did .. or azhar did .. just focus on his batting