Rahul Dravid's retreat earlier this year has spared the current selection committee major headache as they sit together to pick their last Test team before the end of their term. After the 8 straight losses abroad, the demand for change and youth was natural, but the job created by Dravid's departure will allow them to pick 3 new batsmen for the New Zealand Series with no having to make a tough call. Tough calls will be left for the team board who will prune the 15 to 11 on the eve of the 1st Test, which begins on August 23.
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are likely to continue as the openers, VVS Laxman is almost certain to retain his middle-order place, and Cheteshwar Pujara will be only addition to the bat group that tour Australia. Rohit Sharma, who was the next man in should India have made changes in Australia, is likely to retain his Test slot in spite of a very much not good enough limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka. The selection of the XI is some way off, but Pujara's return from injury and his adult knocks on rough West Indies pitches through the A tour might have pushed him in front of Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane in the pecking order.
Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, who formed a victorious spin duo in home Tests against West Indies last year, are likely to backed up by Rahul Sharma in the reserves. Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav will be the 2 1st-choice quicks.
Although the BCCI's release didn't say so, the selectors are also likely to discuss the squad for next month's World Twenty20. They might or might not make the statement tomorrow, but this is likely to be a more complex conversation. For starter, they will have to take a call on the moving favorite Yuvraj Singh's return after his recovery from a rare germ-cell cancer.
There is room for discussing various combinations in the Twenty20 squad, particularly in the bowling department. They could look at other T20 specialists, but the 15 who played in Sri Lanka start off as favorites for preservation.
There is room for discussing various combinations in the Twenty20 squad, particularly in the bowling department. They could look at other T20 specialists, but the 15 who played in Sri Lanka start off as favorites for preservation.
| Test squad | T20 squad |
MS Dhoni (capt./wk) | MS Dhoni (capt./wk) |
Virender Sehwag | Virender Sehwag |
Gautam Gambhir | Gautam Gambhir |
VVS Laxman | Virat Kohli |
Sachin Tendulkar | Suresh Raina |
Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma |
Rohit Sharma | Ajinkya Rahane |
Cheteshwar Pujara | Manoj Tiwary |
Ajinkya Rahane | Irfan Pathan |
R Ashwin | R Ashwin |
Zaheer Khan | Zaheer Khan |
Umesh Yadav | Umesh Yadav |
Pragyan Ojha | Pragyan Ojha |
Rahul Sharma | Rahul Sharma |
Ashok Dinda | Ashok Dinda |
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