ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Wow take a bow De Kock. I was going to say Kohli will get going now but great work by SA.

India still strong favourites, Rahul is a quality batsman. Win Predictor still has India at 91% likely to win.
 
We're in such an odd situation with our openers. They've been incredible for about 3 or 4 years up until a few months ago where both seem to have dropped in form. I think they just about deserved to be here but it'll probably be their last if they don't get going.
You haven't got a lot of alternatives though. Look at all the IPL teams and how many teams start with Indian openers? Sharma and Rahul are probably the two standouts, although maybe you could go with Rayudu too.

You've got loads of good middle-order players though, so if you can get Rahul (your best fielder) in at the top you create more space for Pant, Shankar etc in their preferred slot.
 
You haven't got a lot of alternatives though. Look at all the IPL teams and how many teams start with Indian openers? Sharma and Rahul are probably the two standouts, although maybe you could go with Rayudu too.

You've got loads of good middle-order players though, so if you can get Rahul (your best fielder) in at the top you create more space for Pant, Shankar etc in their preferred slot.

Shaw should be the one to watch out for. He is a top talent, if groomed he could be a lethal opener. Rahul is another option and there is Gill who can also be groomed as an opener. Irrespective of how well these two openers play this tournament , it is important to start looking for 2023 WC and that must start immediately after this WC.
 
We're in such an odd situation with our openers. They've been incredible for about 3 or 4 years up until a few months ago where both seem to have dropped in form. I think they just about deserved to be here but it'll probably be their last if they don't get going.

This is correct. They were so good for 4 years, we had no choice but to bring them and hope the form blip is temporary. I expect 1 of them will fire at least on average - not both as they did for so long.
 
You haven't got a lot of alternatives though. Look at all the IPL teams and how many teams start with Indian openers? Sharma and Rahul are probably the two standouts, although maybe you could go with Rayudu too.

You've got loads of good middle-order players though, so if you can get Rahul (your best fielder) in at the top you create more space for Pant, Shankar etc in their preferred slot.

As @AshRK says, we've Shaw, Gill, Rahul, Samson and possibly even Pant for the opening slots.
 
As @AshRK says, we've Shaw, Gill, Rahul, Samson and possibly even Pant for the opening slots.
Whoever that be needs to be given a good chance and not dropped after one series. We did the same mistake while addressing the middle order issue after 2015 WC. If we mess up the opening issue then it could be bad for us.
 
Rohit doing a great job, hope he gets his form back.

Dhawan is a bloody lost cause and should never have been brought to this tournament. Though I would love him to prove me wrong as well.
 
I don't blame Rohit and Rahul playing cautiously but they have to be careful with required run rate also. New batsmen especially Dhoni will also take good time and the run rate can easily go beyond 6. Next 5 odd overs are very crucial.
 
I don't blame Rohit and Rahul playing cautiously but they have to be careful with required run rate also. New batsmen especially Dhoni will also take good time and the run rate can easily go beyond 6. Next 5 odd overs are very crucial.

Think this is over - they're in complete control.
 
Some poor captaincy by Faf. Why not bring in Rabada and have him break this partnership 2-3 overs ago. Shamsi has been poor and yet he is persisting with him.
 
India always do this when theres a low target to chase. Not surprised. Reckon they win by about 6 wickets.
 
Shaw should be the one to watch out for. He is a top talent, if groomed he could be a lethal opener. Rahul is another option and there is Gill who can also be groomed as an opener. Irrespective of how well these two openers play this tournament , it is important to start looking for 2023 WC and that must start immediately after this WC.
Yep, apologies, realized I'd forgotten Shaw after I wrote the last post. He's a big talent.
 
As @AshRK says, we've Shaw, Gill, Rahul, Samson and possibly even Pant for the opening slots.
True. I'd still pick Rahul as an opener though, so you get a gun fielder and you can pick your strokemakers in their preferred positions.

Rohit-Rahul-Kohli-Pant-Samson-Jayant-Pandya would be a seriously powerful batting line-up, and you can keep the bowling attack you've got now.
 
True. I'd still pick Rahul as an opener though, so you get a gun fielder and you can pick your strokemakers in their preferred positions.

Rohit-Rahul-Kohli-Pant-Samson-Jayant-Pandya would be a seriously powerful batting line-up, and you can keep the bowling attack you've got now.

IPL performances aren't necessarily an indicator of international performance. Samson has been around for ages, but has no consistency. His first class performances for his state team have been very poor. Pant is untested at international level. Jayant Yadav - dont think hes international quality.

What we have on the park today is our best 11. Some of these will get phased out after this WC and be replaced by others - but I think there's a tendency to over rate IPL performances.
 
Bangladesh have 3 overs to hit big and take the score above 250. Thankfully Santner has had a good spell of spin so the track bodes well for the bengi spinners.
Only just noticed there's another game going on. What's your opinion, have Bangladesh underscored here?
 
Dhoni loves to take till the end even when it's not needed. Hope we don't mess this.
 
Dhoni has been garbage.

If he gets out, this is going to put a lot of pressure on the other 3.

When I said at the top this is our best 11 - I should not have.. Dhoni doesn't feature in it, but has made himself indispensable because we didn't try anyone else for 2 years.

We'll win this game 98 out of 100 times but this innings should be judged in isolation - and it has been wank.
 
Good to see Rohit get some runs. Just need Dhawan to find some form and we should be golden. Dhawan looked good in the IPL, hopefully he can score some runs soon.
Considering it's India's first game compared to SA's third, I think India have done pretty well
 
:lol: The dropped catch :lol: Wow

Edit: followed by a boundary of course