India need not worry about lack of all-rounders in their World Cup 2011 squad

The value of a genuine all rounder can never be discounted.

By Sreelata Yellamrazu

The value of a genuine all rounder can never be discounted. But if horses-for-courses are concurrent theme for the World Cup, India need not feel disadvantaged in the 2011 World Cup commencing in less than a month’s time.All-rounders are the X factor that differentiates a gourmet dish from a ready-to-serve meal bought from the supermarket. When India won the 1983 World Cup, it was on the broad shoulders of Kapil Dev and the nifty resources of the likes of Mohinder Amarnath and Roger Binny.

Gary Kirsten, the Indian coach, was merely pointing out the most obvious weakness in India’s World Cup preparations while he mentally crossed Irfan Pathan from his list. However, in choosing his elder brother, Yusuf Pathan, the Indian think-tank has shown it is not too perturbed by the fact that Yusuf has probably not played for India as much as he should in the run-up to the big event.

The great thing about this Indian team is that it thrives on its reputation for self belief – a strong influence of the captain. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has shown it once before how it could work in the format of the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007 with a team that was still light on reputation faculties of Dhoni operate at their optimal level, what India have in their 15 – member squad should suffice to make a strong case for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy.

Given the conditions in the sub-continent that provide significant advantage as hosts in terms of knowledge and experience of having grown up on these surfaces, India would know that talent and smart application can take them places without the fall back option of an established all-rounder. What India has done rather successfully at home over the past year and a half is use the full strength in their batting options while extracting the most of the part-time bowlers.That they have been able to do so without some of the regular players has shown that their batting is probably their strength but their alternate bowling options are not dismal either.

What Dhoni has done well through the years is apply his shrewdness in harnessing the resources at hand through a healthy mixture of thought, instinct, practicality and prudence. Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag have worked as partnership breakers before. Besides there has always been the comment about the Indian ODI team that it does not employ the bowling arm of either man near enough. The lack of a fifth bowler has sometimes caused India’s downfall. However, in this case, Dhoni will know that apart from the four frontline bowlers, he could use the slow part-timers in an asymmetrical fashion to keep the opposition guessing, while stifling their scoring rate.

Yusuf Pathan has shown that he could be a rather useful component now that he has rediscovered his form with the bat and translated that into confidence with the ball as a part-time bowler. His big-hitting in the middle-order will be naturally his USP, but his bowling could be the variation Dhoni needs to prise some opponents out. If Harbhajan Singh can be tempered to do what he did with the bat against New Zealand, India will have their moments to rejoice with Zaheer Khan not doing too badly himself in the lower half.

With four main bowlers, a wicket-keeper-batsman in himself which is a huge strength in the batting line-up, and six specialist batsmen that include the ferocity of Sehwag, the precision of Gautam Gambhir, the pursuit of excellence from Sachin Tendulkar, and a hungry line up of options in Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Virat Kohli, and Yuvraj who will all benefit from the fact that disconcerting bounce will not be a factor to contend with in the sub-continent, it boils down to the right skills and man management. It will be a test really for Kirsten and Dhoni who are believed to be remarkable exponents in that department. With a team composition targeted precisely for the sub-continent, India should not have to worry too much at not having unearthed their version of the Jacques Kallis-like all-rounder yet.

(Sreelata S. Yellamrazu is an accomplished cricket writer-columnist by profession, penning about the game in her own distinct style with an analytical mind, touching upon the nuances of the game, the beauty of the interlude while getting to the heart of the matter and capturing the game in all its facets. Some of Sreelata’s writings can be found at www.mindspacecricket.com)