The SA Tour is going to be a tough one for India. With Viru out of the first ODI and Yuvraj out of the series, it gives the team and its players a golden opportunity to unearth some new talent and possibly make a final call on a few players. The pace department seems to be a good mix of youth (Sreesanth, Munaf) and experience (Zaheer, Agarkar). (Pathan is best treated as an all rounder). But the spin department is where India’s real experience lies in Kumble and Bhajji.
It might be a safe bet to play three seamers (Munaf, Sreesanth and Agarkar) and two spinners (Kumble and Bhajji). Dhoni, Sachin, Dravid, Kaif, Dinesh Karthick and Pathan to make the rest of the team for the first ODI. It might be worth giving Dinesh Karthick who is known for his ability to accelerate the scoring rate with unorthodox shots, a chance in place of Raina, who appears to have run into horrible form. In Viru’s absence India might do well to send Dhoni out with Sachin, followed by Dravid at number three. This would leave the task of accelerating the scoring in the last 10 overs to Karthick and Pathan.
Pakora Korner 