CHENNAI: Series in pocket, the question now is should the Indian team give fringe players a chance or keep them on the bench, in the dead rubber against England starting on Friday.
There have been instances when South Africa and Australia rested some key players, bowlers in particular, to save them from burnout, to keep them fresh and injury-free.
Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath during his last visit to Chennai a while back had advocated a rotation policy to keep seamers fresh. “After the job has been done (series won), there is nothing wrong in resting some of your bowlers to reduce the load. It’s also an opportunity to test bench strength,” McGrath had said.
India have in the past rested players for ODIs. This time, they can take a look at the fast bowlers. Mohammed Shami has been in and out with injuries, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has just replaced him, while Umesh Yadav has played continuously.
Experts Express sought opinion of spoke in favour of continuity, rather than change for the sake of change. Former India captain and chairman of selectors K Srikkanth believes the think tank should not tinker with the team. “The team is doing well. Some of the guys like Jayant Yadav are playing for the first time. Plus, the likes of Bhuvaneswar got a game due to Shami’s injury. These boys need more time in the middle.
“My suggestion is to play the same team. One should not lose the winning streak, as Australia is coming next. They are always a good side. More the games, the better prepared the boys will be to take on Australia,” added Srikkanth.
Former India opener and National Cricket Academy coach WV Raman too isn’t for experiments without reason. “You should not make changes just for the sake of it. There should be a need for change, say an injury or anything else. For a while, we will not be playing Tests, so you have to keep the momentum going. When you win a series with a big margin, it gives the team that much more confidence. It boosts morale and helps you give your best when you play the next series,” said Raman.
The first Indian to score an ODI hundred in South Africa made an interesting observation about Virat Kohli. “Kohli has been a leader from a young age. He knows how to handle his players. He will not allow any one suffer a burnout. He is a quick learner and will improve with every outing,” opined Raman, who coached the Test captain in his U-19 days.
ashok.v@newindianexpress.com