Bring in Ashwin as 5th bowling option: Its Game on for India

After having seen the two world cup matches being played at Bangalore, it has become very conclusive that the teams with one bowler short are the sufferers. In this case, unfortunately, India and England were 1 bowlers short, as I consider Yardy, an English player, who can just  bowl and bat a bit.

And since Ireland has many left handed batsmen to boost off, it becomes impertinent that Ashwin should be considered as the 5th bowling option. Also, as mentioned in my earlier column, he should open the bowling along with Zaheer and allow Munaf to bowl one-change. When Munaf comes in to bowl, the ball looses its sheen and comes slower off the pitch, thus making life difficult to the batsman.

As regards Chawla is considered, his biggest weakness is fear of being hit while flighting the ball. All his wickets in the warm-up matches was because of his consistent flight and variations he brought. This was very much absent in the match against England. I only wish Dhoni not to replace him, but instead coach him to deliver the flight ball consistently. Again, I also wish that India should not, even in hindsight, think of Nehra as the 5th bowling option, since it cannot have the luxury of hiding 2 fields men while fielding.

This would mean that they will be a batsman short and I consider Yusuf Pathan, should make it to the bench. This would also mean that all top batsman should carry the responsibility of playing the 50 overs for the remaining matches to ensure that they post some decent totals on the board. Believe me, as the match progresses, pitches in India will loose the freshness and will start coming onto the bat slowly

All India has to do is ensure that they are within the top 2 of this Group so that they need not face Pakistan in the Quarter Finals. With the current blistering form by Pakistan, they should be within the top 2.

Thus, Game on for India, Go India Go....!!!!.....