Parthiv as Opener !

What seemed as unthinkable a few days ago, might happen. I have read reports that Parthiv Patel might get to relive his Pindi act (http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_T3_13-17APR2004.html) of opening the batting so as to accommodate Dada in the XI. Dinesh Karthik might feel unlucky but he has been in horrendous form this Ranji season with the bat and had absolutely left VB Chandrashekar (the South Zone selector) empty handed. With Kiran More going to Pakistan as a voting selector, having a say in the final XI, I won’t be surprised of ‘bring back Parthiv’ campaign. IMHO, this will be a crazy move (if it happens) since Dhoni’s ability is to change the course of the match in a couple of hours and the Parthiv + Dada combo can forget about doing any such thing. They simply do not have in them to score so quickly.

In the meanwhile, Jaffer has hit a massive 160+ score today against TN and is not going to let go these few chances he is getting. Gambhir, on the other hand did not make a big score against Railways and will be under pressure in the first practice match in the Pak tour. I am almost tempted to pencil in Jaffer, ahead of Gambhir since even by Ranji standards, no batsmen has scored in such Bradmansque fashion in recent times.

All in all, there has been enough drama already but I feel that Pak has the definite edge. Almost, all their batsmen are in form (Salman Butt, Inzi, Kamran and Youhana(Yousuf) plus you throw in Razzak and Afridi – it looks quite heady) but the clincher is the bowling – Shoiab, for a change is making news for on field (rather than off field) contributions and the support cast of Rana and Sami are not doing bad. Kaneria may not be as much as a factor, as he was against England but he will be still useful against the likes of Yuvaraj. Then there are other bowlers, who typically spring to life when they face India – like Umer Gul and perhaps even Asif. Dravid will count himself lucky, if he comes back with a drawn test series.