Three players that should be dropped for the series against West Indies: Sportsrush brings for you an analysis regarding who should be dropped form the Indian team for the series against West Indies.
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With India’s tour of England done and dusted now, it is the most appropriate time for the meticulous analysis of how the Indian players have performed during the English summer.
The scoreline suggests a 1-4 loss, analyzing some players’ individual performances gives you enough reasons as to why this series scoreline happened in the first place. In which is another Test series lost outside of Asia, it asks for some stringent steps to be taken because only then will the improvement likely to come.
These stringent options include the dropping of some key players for that should be the only way to go when reputation isn’t converted into performance on the field. Three players who are highly likely to be axed ahead of the series against West Indies are:
1. Shikhar Dhawan – The 32-year old opening batsman failed to make an impact in yet another foreign series. Often seen getting out after edging deliveries outside the off-stump, there were occasions during the series when it appeared that Dhawan just doesn’t belong over here.
For someone of a Test average of 40,61, blaming him for the lack of skills would be a tad unfair. But then, watching him bat in the way he did, one wasn’t left with many options. Citing his poor form, Dhawan was expected to make a change to either of his technique and mindset.
Apparently, he made a change but only to the way in which he got out in the last two innings, i.e., lbw in place of edging deliveries. In the four Tests that he played, Dhawan scored 162 runs at a paltry average of 20.25. Although he played an additional Test match, Keaton Jennings, an epitome of low scores in the series, has scored an additional run than Dhawan in it.
It is not for the first time that Dhawan has had issues outside of Asia. In the 11 Tests that he has played at home, Dhawan averages 44.37. The numerical falls down to 39.14 in 23 Test matches outside India. The number further falls down to 26.82 in Test matches outside Asia.
For someone who has played 18 Tests outside Asia (with low returns in them), still persisting with him doesn’t make any sense. The script of him scoring runs in India and not doing the same outside of it is an old one. With the series against West Indies before the tour of Australia, let us hope that it doesn’t get repeated for watching him score runs against West Indies and boarding the plane to Australia would not even qualify for a monotonous sequel.
2. Hardik Pandya – Hardik Pandya’s case is a tale of Indian selectors not being able to fulfill the cherished fast bowling all-rounder’s spot in the Indian Test playing eleven. The desperation has caused them persevere with Pandya till now.
Some might argue that the others are being too harsh on him but when the job for which he is applying is hard, others are meant to be harsh. A batting average of 31.29 and a bowling average of 31.08 isn’t too bad but the fact that these performances don’t come at the same time is what hurts the team.
It is the all-rounder’s job to stand tall in both the innings. Pandya somehow manages to let the team down either with his batting or his bowling. On the day he scores runs, he seems like a harmless Test bowler and vice-versa. Again, it might sound too unsympathetic on him but that is a life of a long-term Test all-rounder.
3. Dinesh Karthik – In the two Test matches that Dinesh Karthik played during this series, he scored 21 runs at a scanty average of 5.25. His performance both behind and front of the wickets was uninspiring. In which was a golden break to make a mark, Karthik missed it altogether.
Rishabh Pant, his replacement, hadn’t done anything significant till the last match where he scored a swashbuckling maiden Test century. With Pant scoring a hundred and domestic performers like KS Bharat rising up the ranks, whether the selectors will go back to Karthik seems like a distant possibility.
Moreover, once Wriddhiman Saha get back into full fitness, he is likely to be brought back for he had promised some stability in the last couple of years or so.
With the team for the West Indies yet to be announced, here is hoping that the Indian selectors make some bold decisions in a bid to see India do wonders on the tour of Australia.
