SWOT analysis of Indian team ahead of Australian tour and Wolrd cup
The Opinions and discussions of the Indian team performances outside India has been the talk of the media.
Indian team's performances in test matches outside country has been pathetic . The dependable and best batsmen like Pujara, Kohli failed in the recently concluded England tour. The pace bowling does not meet the international standard.However the Indian team performance in shorter format (ODI and T-20) has improved due IPL.
My SWOT analysis of Indian team ahead of challenging season is as following.
Strengths
The Indian team has the potential to do well in batting department .As we look at the openers we have Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajiyanka Rahane and Murali Vijay. Among the four of them Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay will be my openers in longer format and in the shorter format Ajiyanka Rahane and Dhawan are best persons to do the job. For the next three slots the contenders are Kohli, Raina, Rohit, Pujara, Sanju Samson, Ambati Rayudu. For me Pujara replaces Rohit for the thrid position where as first tow go to Kohli and Raina. The sixth position belongs to wicket keeper/batsman MS Dhoni. The country misses a genuine all rounders like Kapil Dev. Among the available five deemed all rounders like Jajdeja , Ashwin, Karan Sharma, Akshar Patel and Stuart Binny two of them can fit in to according to the pitch condition. Among the pace bowlers we can play two or three out of Mohmmad Shami, Bhuvneswhar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav. We can depend on the fielding of Raina, Kohli, Rahane, Jadeja.
Weakness:
The Indian batting record in overseas in the past 1 year has been a disappointment. But for the second Test at Lords the batting failed miserably in other matches. Openers ,Pujara and Virat Kohli were exposed to good quality swing bowling which disturbed the rhythm of batting time and again.. No batsman was consistent though there were one or two good batting exhibits by Vijay, Rahane and Dhoni each. They will face similar quality pace bowling in Australia. Our over all bowling lacks quality to get the opposite team out twice in test matches. We do not have genuine pace bowler .Our spinners especially in test cricket outside India, are not successful as the pitches are not suitable for them. In One day international the death bowling is the biggest challenge for our bowlers. . Dhoni's captaincy in test outside India is also wanting, The fielding of Ashwin, Pujara need back up.
Opportunities
The immediate opportunity is the ODI series with Sri Lanka lined up due to abrupt cancellation of West Indies tour where Indian pacers can practice at nets and keep trying looking at players like Malinga.. The ongoing Duleep Trophy matches provide the fringe players an opportunity to practice batting.
Threats
Dhoni, Jadjea, are Raina who are playing non stop cricket need intermittent rest. Our fast bowlers get injured often or drop their pace for want of stamina. Indian players must safeguard against injuries in coming series against Sri Lanka and Australia without comprising on fielding. The Physio must work on intense training of fast bowlers like Bhuvensawar Kumar, Mohmmad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron.
Indian team's performances in test matches outside country has been pathetic . The dependable and best batsmen like Pujara, Kohli failed in the recently concluded England tour. The pace bowling does not meet the international standard.However the Indian team performance in shorter format (ODI and T-20) has improved due IPL.
My SWOT analysis of Indian team ahead of challenging season is as following.
Strengths
The Indian team has the potential to do well in batting department .As we look at the openers we have Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajiyanka Rahane and Murali Vijay. Among the four of them Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay will be my openers in longer format and in the shorter format Ajiyanka Rahane and Dhawan are best persons to do the job. For the next three slots the contenders are Kohli, Raina, Rohit, Pujara, Sanju Samson, Ambati Rayudu. For me Pujara replaces Rohit for the thrid position where as first tow go to Kohli and Raina. The sixth position belongs to wicket keeper/batsman MS Dhoni. The country misses a genuine all rounders like Kapil Dev. Among the available five deemed all rounders like Jajdeja , Ashwin, Karan Sharma, Akshar Patel and Stuart Binny two of them can fit in to according to the pitch condition. Among the pace bowlers we can play two or three out of Mohmmad Shami, Bhuvneswhar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav. We can depend on the fielding of Raina, Kohli, Rahane, Jadeja.
Weakness:
The Indian batting record in overseas in the past 1 year has been a disappointment. But for the second Test at Lords the batting failed miserably in other matches. Openers ,Pujara and Virat Kohli were exposed to good quality swing bowling which disturbed the rhythm of batting time and again.. No batsman was consistent though there were one or two good batting exhibits by Vijay, Rahane and Dhoni each. They will face similar quality pace bowling in Australia. Our over all bowling lacks quality to get the opposite team out twice in test matches. We do not have genuine pace bowler .Our spinners especially in test cricket outside India, are not successful as the pitches are not suitable for them. In One day international the death bowling is the biggest challenge for our bowlers. . Dhoni's captaincy in test outside India is also wanting, The fielding of Ashwin, Pujara need back up.
Opportunities
The immediate opportunity is the ODI series with Sri Lanka lined up due to abrupt cancellation of West Indies tour where Indian pacers can practice at nets and keep trying looking at players like Malinga.. The ongoing Duleep Trophy matches provide the fringe players an opportunity to practice batting.
Threats
Dhoni, Jadjea, are Raina who are playing non stop cricket need intermittent rest. Our fast bowlers get injured often or drop their pace for want of stamina. Indian players must safeguard against injuries in coming series against Sri Lanka and Australia without comprising on fielding. The Physio must work on intense training of fast bowlers like Bhuvensawar Kumar, Mohmmad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron.
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