Will Dhoni dare drop Yusuf Pathan?

Updated on: 05 March,2011 07:22 AM IST |
Debasish Datta |

After the tied match against England on February 27, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Team India has been mulling over various combinations that would help them secure their second win in the competition

After the tied match against England on February 27, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Team India has been mulling over various combinations that would help them secure their second win in the competition.

Yusuf Pathan

With no shortage of expert opinion doing the rounds, MiD DAY learns that skipper Dhoni is not tempted to change his combination, the bowlers taking a severe beating against England notwithstanding. However, there is no running away from the fact that the bowling and fielding

are huge concerns for a side that is tipped to win the World Cup. If at all Dhoni decides to tweak things in the combination, he could bring in Suresh Raina, who ranks as the best fielder in the squad. But then, who goes out? Rookie Virat Kohli scored a century in the first match.

Gautam Gambhir is too much of a valuable player coming at one-drop and Yuvraj Singh has just got some confidence with his half century against England. He is also the number one part-time spin bowler.

Can Dhoni dare drop Yusuf Pathan who has not exactly failed? Probably yes, according to insiders. If Raina comes in, Pathan will have to sit out. If this happens, it will only underline that cricket is a cruel, unfair game. But then, team interests come first.