Mohammad Kaif comes in, Sachin Tendulkar is out and Anil Kumble is doubtful. I have a feeling that Yuvraj Singh will find a place in final 11....if its a flat track again, we might see more bowlers in team...may be Pathan or Piyush Chawla.

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My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

i agree on yuvraj selection(even though he is woefully out of form)

i would prefer piyush chawla instead of pathan(unlikely)

the reason for an extra spinner is the pitch in motera is mostly low and slow

after the disappointment of chennai pitch i hate to predict the next two

but still i think even the second test is going to end in a dull draw

may be the kanpur might offer something(usually the pitch there offers good spin with variable bounce on the last 2 days)

we need matches in Mumbai,rarely we get to see draw there-but got a mess of pitch(anyone remember Michael Clarke's 6 wicket haul)

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Heat Sucks-Red Death

After seeing the Indian squad for the second test, have a couple of thoughts:

Firstly, Sachin ruled out through injury. Only 172 runs needed for the most runs in test history. might as well not risk him on these pitches eh Although Kaif has a chance to restart his test career, i reckon Yuvraj will come in, big fan of his and still believe he will transform his ODI form into the test arena.

Secondly, i see the same bowlers from the opening test there RP Singh and Sreesanth, although i like them both, theres no denying they bowled with no zip or penetration in the opening test. Yes, the pitch gave them nothing bar a couple of overs with the shiny red ball, and they bowled few overs, but when they did they were very poor. I see Pathan there, who i would probably give a chance to ahead of RP. But why no Zaheer and Ishant?

I heard Zaheer was carrying a knock, so i guess thats why for him, but i heard Sharma was just rested for the opening test. Surely they aren't resting him for the series? Just when he was on form in Aus, has to play sooner rather than later id have thought.

Can anyone confirm why those 2 aren't in the team for me please? Thanks in advance.

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Sharma is injured as far as I know.......and he or Zaheer are not coming back for the next match.

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My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

Hmm...ok then, thanks. Its just that whenever i saw bits of the 1st test, commentators said both were expected to make the 2nd test. I thought this especially when i saw Sharma sitting their on the sidelines with the rest of the India team when they batted.

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I could be wrong. I hope they do play in the next test. We need them.

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My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

Kaif has been playing very good in the domestic season and i think this might well be the last opputunity he gets to impresse the selectors. Still I am not a big fan of him. I think there are better batsmen in the domestic circuit than him.
As for Ishant , the selectors said that he was injured. But rumours were that he was just rested and might play in the second match.
Another thing, i really think gambhir is a better option than jalffer. All the runs jaffer has scored in his test carrer have been on flat indian wickets and gambhir proved hiimself in australia. Moreover selecting him will make a left right hand opening partnership.
In my view what the selectors are trying to do is make different teams for odi and tests.

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"They look like a team destined to win the world cup"......
Ian Chappel during Ind v SA in the World Cup 20-20

I agree, Gambhir would certainly be a better choice than Jaffer, or indeed Kaif. Everytime I have seen him bat he's scored runs and looked like a good batsman, so i'd like to see him get an extended run in the side.

Mark Arthur has just said that they will target sehwag with short pitched stuff. I think more than bowling short-pitched stuff the strategy is just to get it into sehwag's mind.

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"They look like a team destined to win the world cup"......
Ian Chappel during Ind v SA in the World Cup 20-20

India have been destroyed here. All out for 76 in 20 overs. I think its good enough to say that the match is south africa's unless india can make comeback.

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"They look like a team destined to win the world cup"......
Ian Chappel during Ind v SA in the World Cup 20-20