06 June,2017 06:03 PM IST | Edgbaston | Santosh Suri
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, fast bowler Mohammed Shami and batsman Ajinkya Rahane as subs prove Virat Kohli and Co. are strong contenders to retain ICC Champions Trophy 2017
Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Ajinkya Rahane. Pics/AFP
Seeing the experienced trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Ajinkya Rahane in subs vests during a match would frighten most teams. Players of such calibre can walk into the playing XI of most sides in the ICC Champions Trophy, but they couldn't find a place in the Indian XI against Pakistan. The bench strength itself proves that defending champions India are strong contenders to retain the trophy.
Of course, the English conditions dictate the team combination, so there is no way India could have played both Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin in the XI. Besides, skipper Virat Kohli is not a person to be swayed by reputation and is practical in his selection. However, he would have given it a long thought and even consulted coach Anil Kumble, before following his conviction that saw him pick younger players like Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya ahead of the trio. Kohli has already stated that he's happy to have a selection headache. "It may be a problem of plenty for us, but it's a good problem. With all 15 in good touch, it does become tricky to pick the XI, but then we have to be practical and follow the horses for courses policy," was Kohli's take on the situation. There is no doubt that the skipper made the right choices by reposing faith in veteran Yuvraj Singh as well as youngster Pandya.
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With all the batsmen on display at Edgbaston coming good and the bowling unit firing in tandem, Kohli gave 9 on 10 to the team's performance in both batting and bowling. However, he was not satisfied with the fielding effort, the saving grace being Shoaib Malik's run out effected by the mercurial Jadeja. "I'd give just 6 on 10 to our fielding. The lone exception was Jadeja's brilliant run out. There is a lot of scope to improve in that department. Though it must be said that fielding was not easy on the rain-affected ground," Kohli said.
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India skipper Virat Kohli
Jadeja's brilliant fielding itself gives him the edge over Ashwin whenever there is just one spot for a spinner. He has shown time and again how he can turn the match on its head with his superlative fielding. Add to that his effective bowling and lusty hitting and it would take a lot of courage for a captain to bench such a player.
