New Delhi, Feb 10: As the selectors meet in Mumbai on Sunday to pick the team for the Australia series, they will be looking for experienced campaigners who can change the fortunes of the Test team. The likes of Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and even Wasim Jaffer, therefore, are all in the fray.
According to sources in the Indian cricket board ( BCCI), the selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil is not too keen on tampering with the Sehwag-Gambhir opening combination, in spite of their recent indifferent run. To start with, the selectors are looking to field the best XI based on previous records against the Aussies.
The selectors will, however, discuss the possibility of including a replacement opener, just like they had in the England series. Murali Vijay is in the reckoning, and so is the prolific Wasim Jaffer, who has been in fine form for Mumbai during the domestic season.
Another Mumbai opener, Ajinkya Rahane, failed to capitalize on the chances he got in the ODIs against England and so may lose out on a berth.
Sehwag, who missed the Irani Cup match due to a stomach bug, may not be in the ODI scheme of things but the selectors are still backing him to open the innings in Tests. If he fails to hit form, he may not play the entire series.
The selectors may be tempted to pick Suresh Raina in the middle-order for his superb batting displays in the recently-concluded India-England ODI series and a dominant century in the ongoing Irani Cup.
Harbhajan, too, has a good chance of making a comeback into the Test team. As reported by TOI earlier, the selectors had spoken to Harbhajan before the Ranji Trophy semifinal matches, telling him he would be considered for the Australia series if he could hit form.
Harbhajan, on his part, has shown glimpses of his old wicket-taking. He took four wickets in the second innings while playing for Punjab against Saurashtra in the Ranji semis, and in the Irani Cup he looked good while taking three scalps in Mumbai's first innings. Most importantly, he has a good track record against the Aussies.
Harbhajan's immediate competitor R Ashwin is now being expected to play more of a bowling all-rounder's role, like Ravindra Jadeja, and both may be retained in the team.
Also in the running in the spin department are Pragyan Ojha, Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra. Incidentally, Mishra also has a decent bowling average against the Australians.
In the pace department, Sreesanth has made a good impression. Bhuvneshwar Kumar too may earn a Test berth. Ishant Sharma is also expected to be in the team in spite of all the talk about his ankle injury. Dhawal Kulkarni's name is also doing the rounds.
Ashok Dinda, who was in the Test squad during the England series, will have to consider himself lucky if he is retained.
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