10 Indian players unfortunate to miss out on the 2015 World Cup probables
On a hot, sultry evening in Mumbai almost 4 years ago, MS Dhoni’s six, which sealed the World Cup (WC) for India, gave the country of a billion unparalleled jubilation and joy. Celebrations continued for weeks on end and the demigods of Indian cricket were idolised like never before. The World Cup had finally been won, 28 years after Kapil Dev was seen carrying the trophy at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in 1983. But that was 4 years ago.Much has changed since then. Indian cricket has seen some inspiring highs, along with some frustrating lows ever since the night of 2nd April. The WC heroes have been mercilessly discarded, in the hope that newer ones can take the field and do India proud, just as they had. With just over two months to go for cricket’s biggest event to be held in Australia and New Zealand, the Indian selectors yesterday picked the 30 probables who will have the onerous responsibility of replicating a Wankhede all over again.India's 30-man preliminary squad: MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Manoj Tiwary, Manish Pandey, Wriddhiman Saha, Sanju Samson, R Ashwin, Parvez Rasool, Karn Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Mohit Sharma, Ashoke Dinda, Kuldeep Yadav and Murali Vijay.However, as is the case with Indian selection, there will always be endless debates on the players who missed out on a ticket to Australia. Sandeep Patil’s every move will be dissected, and then it will be dissected a little bit more till the World Cup is actually won.Here’s a look at the 10 players could consider themselves unlucky for missing out on World Cup selection:
#1 Virender Sehwag
“I still dream and hope to play in this World Cup.”
Virender Sehwag’s words a few days ago stumped cricket fans, who were well aware that he was fighting a lost battle to get into the national team, considering he had not donned the Indian jersey since 3 January, 2013, when he had scored a 43-ball 31 in a losing cause in Kolkata versus Pakistan.
The swashbuckling opener, who was instrumental in giving the Indian team the start they needed in every game (except the final) in the 2011 WC, amassed a whopping 380 runs in 8 innings, including a massive 175 in the opener against Bangladesh, at an average of 47.5 in the last edition.
His highest ODI score of 219 against West Indies in Indore later that year, where he brilliantly combined aggression with caution, and his inherently ruthless approach to batting often reminded one of Sir Vivian Richards.
However lack of footwork, along with the loss of his hand-eye coordination, which had been integral to his success for long given his lack of technique, soon caught up with him, and an average Indian Premier League season this year, where he scored only 455 runs in 17 games, did him no good.
With only 131 runs in 6 games at an average of 21.83 for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare trophy, along with a cold shoulder given to him for the Australian Test tour, his chances to make the provisional squad looked minimal to say the least.
At 36, he wasn’t getting any younger and given the big grounds Down Under, the youngsters who could dive and catch the ball were always going to get first preference.