Is it time for India to look beyond Yuvraj?

Note: Wrote this on March 21st  after India's first match. Sent to Cricinfo but they declined to publish this time (may be they thought this was harsh). Thought today is a very apt day to put it on my blog at least.

When Yuvraj was selected for New Zealand’s T20 leg during their 2012 India tour, it marked a comeback which was hugely emotional for one of India’s favorite sons of the past decade. Many questioned the selection and many felt it was made purely on emotional grounds and less so on cricketing grounds. But, Yuvraj did perform on the field. Although his comeback game in Vizag got washed out, he did well in Chennai where he bowled a couple of overs and almost took India home in their chase (India lost by a run with Yuvi making 34 off 26).

After that, he played 10 more T20 international games before the opener against Pakistan this T20 WC. Among these knocks, one stands out. He hit an unbeaten 77 in 35 balls to successfully chase down Australia’s 201 in Rajkot, 2013. However, it has to be said he did not exactly set the stage on fire and neither did he consistently replicate his heroics of the past. Yes, there are those six 6s but who can forget his superlative knock against Australia in the 2007 T20 WC? 

Even though Yuvraj didn’t have a particularly successful domestic season, his selection to this World Cup squad was largely expected.  There were slight concerns if he will make it to the starting XI but those died down once team India played him at number 4 in both warm-up games.  He didn’t bowl in either of the games and although he hit 30 odd against Sri Lanka, he did not look very comfortable in these 2 games.

All the eyes were on India’s opener against Pakistan. It was a pretty comfortable win for India and most players played their part. But, it was a game to forget for Yuvraj. He bowled an expensive over, dropped a catch, and then had his stumps rattled after scoring just 1 run.  He walked in with India relatively comfortably placed at 64/2 and had time to settle in. He didn’t last long as he was undone by a full delivery with his feet going nowhere.

When Yuvraj made his comeback in 2012, Dhoni said ‘he gives us the right kind of balance we need’. However, with him not bowling a lot and fielding not as sharp, is Yuvraj now starting to be a liability in India’s middle order? The answer has to be yes. Stuart Binny had a terrific domestic season and it is time he is given a long run. Kohli, Raina and Dhoni can form the middle order with Jadeja, Binny and Ashwin being the lower middle order. The other option India has is to pick Rahane as an opener and play Rohit Sharma at 5.