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Perth leg presents India with chance to testbench strengthPerth, Tue, Feb 24 2015 by Tanmoy Mookherjee (/cricket-news/author/tanmoy-mookherjee/49)

Last updated on Tuesday, 24 February, 2015, 11:40 PM

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2/25/2015 Perth leg presents India with chance to test bench strength - Cricbuzz

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If fit, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could play India's next two matches in Perth. © Getty

Comprehensive victories over Pakistan and South Africa have given India the unlikely top spot in a tough

Group B of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, and - as they quietly trundle into Perth for their next two matches

- it has left the team's management with the pleasant headache of looking at players who have warmed the

bench so far.

It would be premature to associate the victories with the "team peaking" as the Indians go deeper into the

competition, but against less-fancied opponents in United Arab Emirates whom they play at the WACA ground

on Saturday, they could find a way to give a look-in to players who make up the fifteen.

The Perth leg of their World Cup campaign gives India the option of giving their reserve players some match-

time so they can ease themselves into the World Cup, one of the possible conversations MS Dhoni and Virat

Kohli may have had at the lobby of the team hotel before they walked out to grab lunch with Mohammed

Shami on Tuesday afternoon.

Nearly a month ago, India were playing their final group fixture in the 2015 Cartlon Mid Tri-series here against

England, where they went down by three wickets. They hadn't made the final of the competition and that a

disappointing tour had finally come to an end was a relief.

On that day, India had first thrown away an impressive opening stand to be bowled out for 200, and then had

England on the ropes at 66 for 5 before they overcame the stutter to win by three wickets. With players like

Ravindra Jadeja coming back from injury, Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar out with one, and R Ashwin

2/25/2015 Perth leg presents India with chance to test bench strength - Cricbuzz

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rested, India found positives in the form of Mohit Sharma, whose 2 for 36 that day turned out to be a

selection-clinching performance.

Mohit's performance ensured India didn't need to look too far to replace Ishant Sharma in their squad, and his

performances against both Pakistan and South Africa have ensured he stays as the third seamer for Dhoni.

While Stuart Binny would be a prospect to ponder should India decide to rest either Umesh Yadav or Shami,

the lead-up to Saturday would also reveal to which extent has Bhuvneshwar recovered from his injury.

Bhuvneshwar is being eased into bowling in the nets, and India's two practice sessions scheduled at the WACA

on Wednesday and Friday will go a long way to determine his fitness. Even if he isn't deemed match-fit for the

UAE game, India would be hoping they get positive news from the physio ahead of their match against West

Indies on March 6.

West Indies have scored over 300 runs in each of their first three games and despite a shock defeat to Ireland

in their opening fixture, they have come back to stay in contention for the quarter-finals. Chris Gayle's record-

setting 215 against Zimbabwe has cautioned teams, and Bhuvneshwar's impressive record against the big

Jamaican opener would have Dhoni wanting his premier bowler to be fit for that contest.

Shikhar Dhawan's resounding return to form in the first two games has steadied the Indian batting order at

the top, and even though they would like Rohit to return to his scoring best, they looked convincing against

strong bowling attacks of Pakistan and South Africa. India, or Dhoni in particular, have not really worried over

a wobble towards the end of the innings in a bid to accelerate, as in both games they lost wickets in clumps to

settle with 300 and 307 respectively, although they were well-set for at least 20 runs more.

That India have batted first in both the matches hasn't tested their middle and lower middle orders, and they

would like to correct that by looking to alter their plans against UAE. Wickets up front by the opening bowlers

and a sustained effort from the ones who follow have made it a complete bowling performance, but in the

event of an injury to one of the regulars, the need for the reserves to be in some sort of form is paramount.

© Cricbuzz

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Gulam Mahamood · · Vidyavardhaka college of commerce, Mysore

Bring back bhuvi and binny for the next two games and give rest to umesh and sami. bothbhuvi and binny can bowl and can bat also. remember bhuvi in england picthes he cancome good if he gets some runs in the nets.

Reply · Like · · Follow Post · 14 hours ago

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Pratik Amin · Vidhyanagar High School

Good thoughts by writer. I personally believe that if we are to go deeper in this tournament,we definitely need Bhuvi back. India was lucky that SA was in dire straights by the time ofmid innings, so that we didnt need any part timers to bowl in place of Umesh. I think Umeshis not made for Australia. he has sheer speed but no movement at all. Against players likeGayle, Warner, McCullum etc he would get t-balled all day long.Also I hope we give Binny a chance. If he bowls well, he is also a good bat to have in case.

Reply · Like · Follow Post · 16 hours ago

Srinivas Korukonda · · Pondicherry University

Perhaps we can go with 4 quicks and 1 spinner as Perth pitch offers more for fast bowlers, Iwould like to see Bhuvi, Binny, Mohit, Shami and Ashwin. It also brings the depth in thelower middle order which India had found lacking in first two games played.

Reply · Like · Follow Post · about an hour ago

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Saravanan Selvaraj · Principal Engineer at Hughes Systique India Pvt Ltd

Both ireland and west-indies are tricky cusomers on their dayIndia need to ensure a proper win against UAE,before they start experimenting

Reply · Like · Follow Post · about an hour ago

Pichumani N P Mani · Sales at Amalgamations

agree with gulam mahamood

Reply · Like · Follow Post · 5 hours ago

Mahmood Mubarak Syed · Accountant at National Flight Service

i agree with gulam mahamood

Reply · Like · Follow Post · 5 hours ago

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