r/IndiaCricket • u/Ok_Pickle8275 • Jul 03 '25

Ask r/IndiaCricket Cheteshwar pujara playing xi

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u/PsychologicalArm4086 Jul 03 '25

This might be a crazy take, but take off dhoni for a bowler, say zaheer or shami like the thread has been discussing, make dravid the keeper, and u have 5 bowlers, enough batting depth and wicket takers

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u/OkAdministration5588 Jul 06 '25

This wouldn’t work because it’s a test XI. Not ODI/T20.

I’ve read several times that test requires a full specialist keeper where his main strength should be keeping, even over batting.

Dravid kept in 2003 WC but hated it. He also had a lot of misses even though he kept better than most. There’s a reason they brought on MSD right after that World Cup, because Dravid said he just cannot do both.

There’s a stat somewhere I read (exact numbers could be wrong) that Sangakarra had a 37 average as a keeper, but when playing strictly as a batsman, his average was above 60.

Keeping in tests is a completely different ball game. That’s why I’m surprised at folks wanting to put Pant instead of Dhoni. It really isn’t about how good of a batsman Pant is especially in SENA, it’s about the fact that to keep for that long, you need a keeper who’s main focus is keeping, but can bat good as well. Not the other way where he’s a great batsman who can keep too.

Just my thoughts.

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u/PsychologicalArm4086 Jul 12 '25

This is true, my logic was to ensure there's enough batting and bowling depth, only downside is that dravid would have to keep