Will India miss "THE TRILOGY"

With an exciting finish of the first match of the twenty20 world cup, what is the whole expectations out of the different cricketing nations? Are they going to be run scoring encounters? Do bowlers have any chance of survival? Never mind... this is a tournament to sit back and relax. Watch some good exciting cricket, having no expectations whatsoever. Exactly 12 teams participating, who will be the triumphant? For me, can India do it? More importantly, will the services of the trios be missed?

My honest opinion
Who makes the trilogy - sachin, dravid and ganguly. Honestly, dravid should have played, i felt. All know what start he gave to his career. There was a time when people used to wait for him to get out, he put brakes on the run rate. He was neither entertained in the middle by the viewers nor did he entertain in the middle. Gone away are those days. Currently, he is one of those finest batsmen of world cricket with cool head on shoulders and a pool of innovative and technically sound shots in his array. Though India likes the taste of Dhoni for the end overs, dravid has never been far behind. What makes him above the rest is the ability to get singles, in addition to hitting those big shots. He would have easily fit in the twenty20 squad, easily replacing one of those young guns.

Carrying on to ganguly, an exciting cricketer; sometimes demolishing the opposition, when he gets going at the top. Can really hit some big shots over covers and long on during the initial stage, setting up the platform for the team. Spinners have nightmares bowling to him, cause he translates easily the best of spin deliveries to stands. Not very comfortable against shot bowling and poor runner between wickets. I would give him a 'yes' for the kind of stroke play he makes but would think twice for his running and fielding. Doesn't easily fit into the squad but if guys like Karthik or Gambhir are out of form, should definitely take him.

Finally to the man, the suspense, opinions about whom have been variant of late, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. The kind of start he made to his career, he was easily the favourites of most of the Indians. The degree of attacking cricket he played, was easily seeing him among the Bradmans and Sobers. What a fantastic career he has made! A dream for any human, a masterpiece for a cricketer! His selection for the squad takes a 'No' from my side. Controversial? Let me reason out.

1. His battle with mind to stop or continue playing attacking cricket still remains his biggest threats.
   
2. Attacking shots that are played down the ground and coming in front, has not seen him in comfortable shape with respect to cramps and fitness.
3. His inability to play long innings without getting cramps or having fitness problems, gives a feeling of not being able to cope up to the stress and hitting level expected at this tournament level.

Given a choice to choose Indian squad for the twenty20 series, I would have picked:

1. V Sehwag
2. R Uthappa
3. R Dravid
4. Y Singh
5. M Dhoni
6. D Karthik (if not in form, the S Ganguly... that would change the batting order. Ganguly would open and Uthappa one down and others as followed)
   
7. R Sharma
   
8. I Pathan
   
9. H singh
10. A Agarkar (not sure)
11. RP Singh

Hope this blog was controversial enough for comments and expecting your squad for the twenty20 series as well. ;)