Experimenting with the lineup – a potential solution to India’s woes?

A dismal performance by the Indians in the recently concluded Investec Test series in England has predictably created restlessness among the Indian cricketing board officials, cricket pundits, and the public. Clamor for a change in the leadership role of the team was instant, promptly followed up by the replacement of Duncan Fletcher by Ravi Shastri. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was fortunately spared frankly owing to lack of options. The BCCI and the think-tank should ideally be taking these defeats to fulfill the greater purpose of grooming the team better. It is true that the team is undergoing the rebuilding phase and hence this is the right time not only to induct new blood into the team but also show the door to those who have been found wanting more often than not. We should be prepared to lose some more matches if this purpose of team-building is being solved in the process.
To begin with, few strict policies need to be chalked out. Primarily, the selection on the basis of IPL performances should be shelved. More focus needs to be shifted to longer versions of the game like Irani Trophy and Ranji Trophy for player selection. We need to go back to the board as far as training in cricket is concerned and resume encouragement of domestic cricket to aspiring players in order to enrich exposure and develop sound technique.
The current Indian team can do with a lot of shuffling and experimenting as far as the lineup is concerned.
• The opening slots need to be revamped for sure. The inconsistent Shikhar Dhawan needs to be given rest. Gautam Gambhir should be backed through this lean patch of his and trusted with the role at the helm along with Murali Vijay or Robin Utthapa. Jeevan Jyot Singh is another emerging talent who can be honed as a replacement in the opening slot, when the time and need arises.
• The one-down position ideally needs to have the best batsman of the team. Currently though, barring Cheteshwar Pujara, there seems to be nobody accomplished enough to take up this role. Pujara needs to curb his ambition to succeed in all formats of the game which is making him give in to playing a few non-cricketing shots. He needs to understand that these kind of shots are not meant for his breed of players and he should be getting back to his old disciplined game.
• The cool and collected Ajinkya Rahane who is a blend of well controlled aggression and technical perfection is the current best fit at the two-down position. As an option in this slot Ambati Rayadu can put his foot in the shoe.  He was incidentally a breed quite similar to Pujara when he started.  But due to lack of opportunity at Test Cricket level he adapted to shorter version of the game to stay in the reckoning. He could be a genuine contender for the number four slot.
• The ever dependable (give the poor guy a break!) Virat Kohli is a good contender for the fifth slot. Off late, his flamboyance has superseded his talent. He needs to learn to build and sustain a concrete innings. Rohit Sharma for one, should be dropped even from consideration with immediate effect. He should be penalized not only for his repeated failures but also for his ill-fitting arrogance regardless of situation and irresponsible attitude. Although oft-touted as a reservoir of talent, he falls far short of the “test match character”.
• Dhoni enjoys an (un)enviable position at the sixth position where there is clearly no replacement in sight. Keeping the future in mind though, Naman Oza or Wriddhiman Saha can be given regular opportunities on foreign tours.
• Since a very long time, India has been found wanting in the department of an all-rounder. Currently, Ashwin does a decent job of filling the slot of a bowling all-rounder. Ravindra Jadeja on a foreign wicket is clueless.  When cracks and dust do not come to his help, he is all at sea.  Some utility as a lower order batsman and a sharp fielder in the outfield being his redeeming features, he could be considered when the wicket is sure to help a bowler. Otherwise one should not take a chance with him.
• If speed can hurt, it can be both ways. Anybody bowling consistently at or above 140 kmph is an asset on green bouncy tops. Umesh Yadav and Arron Varun are certainly the hurlers to be nurtured for a long time.  Ishant Sharma off late, has developed a knack of inswinging deliveries which augurs well for India. Bhubaneshwar Kumar though a medium pacer adds firepower owing to his accuracy and prodigious swing.  As a good lower order batsman he adds substance to the tail as well.
• Lastly, wristy spinners are becoming a rare breed.  Although not tried so far, Karan Sharma needs to be looked at seriously. Amit Mishra albeit a tested leggie, may not serve the purpose in the long run, looking at his fitness and increasing age.