No word from Tendulkar on his availability for the West Indies ODI series, Zaheer Khan set for Test return; Rohit, Rahane may board Australia bus, Yuvi may miss it./
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be rested for the five-match ODI
series against the West Indies, starting on November 29. According to information available with this paper, Dhoni has asked for a break. Either Virender Sehwag or Gautam Gambhir will stand in for Dhoni. Most likely, it will be Sehwag.
The Krishnamachari-led selection committee will announce the ODI squad on Friday. The committee will come up with the Test squad for next month’s Australia series on Saturday.
It is not yet clear if any other player has asked for rest from the ODIs. At least the selection committee is not aware of it as of Thursday night. Even Sachin Tendulkar has not indicated whether he would play the one-dayers. Tendulkar has not played an ODI since the World Cup final on April 2.
Most members of India’s ODI squad that played against England in October are likely to be retained. It means the likes of Ravindra Jadejas, Manoj Tiwarys, Parthiv Patels will be back. India had won the series 5-0.
The tricky question, however, is the combination of the Test squad that will be travelling to Australia. Indications are that there will not be too many changes. Barring leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, the selectors are likely to retain the present squad for the four Tests against the Aussies. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane look certainties for the tour.
It also means there are no places for Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh. The 31-year-old off-spinner, a veteran of 98 Tests, was hoping to be part of the squad. But the selectors do not seem to be favourably disposed towards him. Harbhajan has done precious little in the few Ranji games he has played.
On the other hand, R Ashwin has shown tremendous form in the Tests. In five innings so far against the West Indies, he has 18 wickets.
It’s a similar story for Yuvraj too. The left-handed middle-order batsman failed to utilise the opportunity in the first two Tests against the West Indies. He is now out of contention for a Test berth.
The selectors will also include Zaheer Khan and Praveen Kumar to the Australia-bound squad. Zaheer has not had match practice since his surgery a couple of months back but he is very much in the scheme.
A second wicket-keeper —Parthiv Patel or Wriddhiman Saha — will complete the 17-member line-up for the tour Down Under. India will play four Tests in Australia.
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