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Ravindra Jadeja and Gautam Gambhir
not in Rahul Dravid's team for Australia series
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With India tasting contrasting results in the Test and ODI legs of it's last overseas assignment, the selectors have a difficult task at hand when they meet on Tuesday to pick the squad for Australia series.
Importantly, with Gautam Gambhir having a horrible couple of Tests towards the end of the series in England that India lost 1-3, the Sandeep Patil led selection committee might have some tough choices to make.
One among the Karnataka opening duo of Robin Uthappa and Lokesh Rahul, especially the later who smashed back-to-back tons in the Duleep Trophy final in a losing cause is expected to be named as the third opener.
Former captain Rahul Dravid, also the batting consultant for Team India for England 2014 feels the youngster should be drafted in at a time when he is playing to the best of capabilities.
"He has scored over 1000 runs in the domestic season, looks in really good form with twin hundreds in the Duleep final, so if you are going to give a youngster an opportunity, it's good to pick him if he's in good form and actually playing well," Dravid told ESPNcricinfo. "You are picking him, at least initially, as a back-up opener," he added.
Backing Shikhar Dhawan as the first choice opener the greatest No.3 to have played for India said: Dhawan "needs to be given another tour considering his track record in the last 10-12 months."
It is yet to be seen whether the unlucky Pankaj Singh retains the faith of selectors after a couple of disappointing outings in England.
Suresh Raina have to wait
The Bangalore born also feels that Suresh Raina, albeit exhibiting immense level of consistency since the beginning of this season should wait for his Test recall. He thinks that the current middle order deserves another go.
"In their short international careers all the four middle-order batsmen I have picked (Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma) have shown you glimpses that they could form a really potent combination," he said. "Sure they have struggled as well, which happens to most young cricketers. But if you keep chopping and changing for every overseas series, then you find yourself in trouble.
"So Australia will be a good test after the disappointments of England. I think all four of them actually deserve to be given a bit more time. So it's not that somebody else is not good enough, I feel that the four here need to be backed, especially for this series," the 41-year-old mentioned.
Karn Sharma should play in place of Ravindra Jadeja
Dravid also picks the Railways leg spinner Karn Sharma to replace left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the starting XI reasoning that "wrist spinners have a greater chance to succeed in Australia especially if they bowl slightly quicker in the air and have a good googly."
"Jadeja does a good job at what he does. You know what you are going to get with him, he will bowl wicket to wicket, he will bat well for you at 7 or 8 but I just feel if you want to win Test matches in Australia and you have a quality wrist-spinner, you give yourself a great chance," he stated.
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