- Virat Kohli – Front Runner
Strength
Today, Virat Kohli is the hottest prospect for the Indian cricket team. Kohli by far will be the front runner to replace the place left vacant by Rahul Dravid. Kohli himself likes to feature in the midlle order and build a game which is very similar to the role which Rahul Dravid played for the country. In recent times, Kohli has been in extraordinary form let it be against any opposition or at any venue. Kohli is known to be a superb reader of the game who is highly consistent and has excellent work-ethics. Currently, he is probably the best player in the shorter version of the game. This Delhi lad has already scored 11 centuries and 21 half century.
Weakness
Kohli is known to an aggressive player, though he claims his aggression to be his strength. I personally feel such destructive characteristics can be an obstacle to his cricketing career. If you want to clone Dravid’s patience, Kohli would certainly fail in that department. Moreover, there is a huge gap between his test match averages and ODI average, 32.67 in test matches while 50.56 in ODI. He had an awful time in the Caribbean, but consequently, he came out in flying colours during the tour to Australia, where he was the top scorer for India.
- Rohit Sharma- Why not ?
Strength
Rohit Sharma introduced himself in the International scene after his heroics at the T-20 World cup in South Africa. Rohit became an integeral part of the Indian team after the excellent time he had in the Commonwealth Bank Series 2008 in Australia. Sharma is known to be a powerful striker of the cricket ball, a player who can clear the ropes with orthodox cricketing shots and adapt himself within the demanding situation. Sharma, if he comes in place of Rahul Dravid, will increase the depth of India’s batting order. Rohit is also known to have excellent pair of hands, very similar to what Dravid had. Moreover, his leg spins can also come handy and can chip in a few wickets in times when every bowler will fail.
Weakness
Sharma is known to be a highly inconsistent player. In fact, inconsistency meant that he faced the axe from the World Cup squad, a decision which I object. Sharma has only managed two centuries in the International format that too against a lowly rank team – Zimbabwe.
- Manish Pandey – Gamble
Strength
Manish Pandey actually is the perfect replica of Rahul Dravid – the similar coaching book stance and tantalizing drives with a straight bat. Moreover, both of them come from the same place – Karnataka. Pandey is known to be a player who likes to bat in the middle order and paces his innings gradually. He has an excellent first class average of 54.56, that possibly tells you how good the 22 year old player has been for Karnataka. He also has 8 centuries and 11 half centuries, with 218 as his best. Manish Pandey is also known to be a superb fielder, in fact the Sourav Ganguly called his catch which he took in the Ranji Final as the best he has seen in the century. It is high time that selectors don’t overlook him and give him a deserving chance.
Weakness
Going by the fundamentals of probability, Manish Pandey will be a gamble which would have greater chances of backfiring. On one hand, Rahul Dravid has played 164 games and on the other, Pandey is yet to make an International debut in any format. Moreover, lately he hasn’t been in good form, he could only manage a single half century in this IPL edition.
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