Australia tour squad selection today

[BeautifulGame]

India's selectors are set to pick the squad for the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka and the four-Test series in Australia in Mumbai on Monday afternoon. The selection for the Test series*was postponed*on November 4. One of the main issues that Sandeep Patil's men will have to deal with is India's opening options. While M Vijay is a certainty, Shikhar Dhawan is likely to retain his place despite being dropped for the last two Tests in England earlier this year. The reserve opener's slot will fuel a lot of discussion. While a few members of India's revamped management are of the opinion that Virender Sehwag will be a great asset in Australia, team director Ravi Shastri said in recent media interactions that "form" will be the main criterion for selection going into the next year's World Cup. Sehwag hasn't done anything of note since then. His three innings this season have fetched him 32 (for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final), 11 and 0 (for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy), so Sehwag is unlikely to get the nod. Despite Gautam Gambhir having scored a big hundred in the Duleep semi-finals, his technical deficiencies had been exposed during the last two Tests in England. As a result, the selectors are likely to look beyond these seasoned openers. It is understood that the Karnataka duo of Robin Uthappa and KL Rahul are prime contenders for the reserve opener's position. While Uthappa made a return to India's one-day side in Bangladesh earlier this year, Rahul has been in a scintillating touch, as was evident during his twin hundreds in the Duleep Trophy final last week. Umesh Yadav, who has impressed during the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, is set to make a return to the Test squad. It is understood that Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron, both of whom have been sidelined due to injuries, are likely to recover in time before the first Test begins on December 4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma are certainties in the line-up. It will be interesting to see if the selectors retain Pankaj Singh or Ishwar Pandey in the squad. While Wriddhiman Saha, who had made way for Naman Ojha as the back-up wicketkeeper mid-way through the England Tests, is set to regain his place, it will be interesting to see if Ojha is considered for the reserve batsman's spot. After scoring three successive centuries, including a double, during India A's tour to Australia earlier this year, Ojha followed up with a double-ton during the Duleep Trophy semi-final. The decision on whether to pick three spinners and Stuart Binny, who played three Tests in England, will depend on the strength of the squad. India have of late preferred to tour for Test series with unusually big squads. While 18 players were selected for the five-Test series in England earlier this year, 17 toured Australia for India's last Test series there three years ago. Acc to cricinfo sources squad looks like Openers: Vijay Dhawan Rahul Middle Order : Pujara Kohli Rahane Rohit and Dhoni (wk) Seamers : Bhuvi Ishant Shami Yadav Aaron and another With only selection uncertainty being 2nd choice wk BTW Saha and Ohja and selection of Binny Don't see the point of Binny in Australia .Better to go with Leggie like Karn as another spin option

[bowl_out]

Where are the spinners in the squad? Really hope Jadeja is dropped from the squad... Spinners should be Ashwin and Karn... I think Binny will be more useful than Jadeja in Aus... Won't mind having him in the squad

[tweaker]

Most likely squad 1. Dhawan 2 Vijay 3. Rahul 4. Rahane 5. Pujara 6 Kohli 7. Rohit 8 Raina 9 Dhoni 10 Saha 11 Jadeja 12. Ashwin 13 Kumar 14. Shami 15. Ishant 16. Yadav 17 Aaron

[tweaker]

But I will not be surprised if selectors select somebody out of the blue.

[JaFanatic]

My picks for the last ODIs Virat© Raina(vc) Ishank Jaggi Uthappa Rayudu Karun Nair Axar Karn Sharma Umesh Veer Pratap Singh Jasprit Bumrah Dhawan Ashwin Saha Rahul Shukla :bow:

[wanted_desi]

Why on earth would Jadeja will make it

[Crookbond]

My picks for the last ODIs Virat© Raina(vc) Ishank Jaggi Uthappa Rayudu Karun Nair Axar Karn Sharma Umesh Veer Pratap Singh Jasprit Bumrah Dhawan Ashwin Saha Rahul Shukla :bow:

Thanks but people are posting squads for Australia.

[G_B_]

Dhawan Vijay Pujara Rahane Kohli MSD Ashwin Bhuvi Umesh Ishant Shami thats would be my playing 11, ideally MSD should not be in the side but its not as if he will be dropped. with Rohit, Naman Ojha (a leggie) and (a back up seamer) making rest of the squad.

[bowl_out]

^ +1. I had the exact same XI. KL Rahul as back up opener Rohit Sharma as back up middle order batsman Saha as back up keeper Karn Sharma as back up spinner Aaron, Pankaj/Dhawal or even Binny as back up seam options Playing XI: Dhawan Vijay Pujara Kohli Rahane Dhoni Ashwin Bhuvi Umesh Ishant Shami

[rkt.india]

Vijay Dhawan Pujara Kohli Rahane Rohit Dhoni Ashwin/Karn/BK Aaron Ishant Umesh

[Sooda]

Dhawan Vijay Pujara Rahane Kohli MSD Ashwin Bhuvi Umesh Ishant Shami thats would be my playing 11, ideally MSD should not be in the side but its not as if he will be dropped. with Rohit, Naman Ojha (a leggie) and (a back up seamer) making rest of the squad.

I'd go with that but with Varun instead of Shami. The batting is a bit lightweight though

[bowl_out]

I would really like to see Dhoni groom Kohli as Test captain during the series, and end his Test career with the series... Hmm... Wishful thinking

[G_B_]

KL Rahul hmm do we really throw in somebody on such a difficult tour that too at the top? seems a bit unfair.

[SLICKR392]

KL Rahul hmm do we really throw in somebody on such a difficult tour that too at the top? seems a bit unfair.

Yep, like Rahane in the Delhi Test, but if he scores there it becomes a massive WIN

[Lord]

Most likely squad 1. Dhawan 2 Vijay 3. Rahul 4. Rahane 5. Pujara 6 Kohli 7. Rohit 8 Raina 9 Dhoni 10 Saha 11 Jadeja 12. Ashwin 13 Kumar 14. Shami 15. Ishant 16. Yadav 17 Aaron

agree except Raina maybe Rayudu will be there

[Old guy]

Rahul needs to be I cluded its time we get rid of jokers like rohit and raina from tests for good

[Lord]

Where are the spinners in the squad? Really hope Jadeja is dropped from the squad... Spinners should be Ashwin and Karn... I think Binny will be more useful than Jadeja in Aus... Won't mind having him in the squad

Ashwin has done even worse than Jaddu in bowling,specially in last Aus tour,Can make it for batting though Karn seems a LOI spinner,not sure how good hes in longer format.FC record is decent at best :hmmm: spinners take time to adapt overseas so wont be surprised to see both retained.

[Pagalpanti]

Rahul needs to be I cluded its time we get rid of jokers like rohit and raina from tests for good

Even if he's selected he'll warm the benches so that likes of Raina and Rohit go through the "process".

[Old guy]

Even if he's selected he'll warm the benches so that likes of Raina and Rohit go through the "process".

I don't want some one like raina to be selected at all . ..rohit still deserves a spot in squad but Rahul is much better batsman and its long tour and he will get chance sooner or later as injuries can happen or bad form and isn't he opener ? So his main competition will be dhawan

[Old guy]

I am confused about his batting position but he can open he had good technique