In first meeting after WC win,selectors have tricky job

The national selection committee meeting,the first after India's World Cup win on April 2,to be held in Chennai on Friday

The national selection committee meeting,the first after India’s World Cup win on April 2,to be held in Chennai on Friday will require the selectors to perform a balancing act between giving tired players rest and getting the right mix of personnel when they pick the squad for the ODIs and the one-off Twenty20 International in the West Indies.

Virender Sehwag has been ruled out as he is set to undergo a right shoulder surgery for a long-standing injury,while it is learnt that Sachin Tendulkar,who played just two One-day Internationals in 2010 and left-arm strike bowler Zaheer Khan are likely to make themselves unavailable to gain rest before the three-match Test series which starts in Kingston on June 20. However,it is learnt that the decision to give skipper MS Dhoni a break will be taken only on Friday. Newly appointed coach Duncan Fletcher will also take part in the meeting.

On the cards is the elevation of Gautam Gambhir to vice-captaincy,a position previously held by Sehwag. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla,who didn’t enjoy the best of form during the World Cup,is set to face the axe when the selectors name the squad.

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Leg-break bowler Amit Mishra is the selectors’ choice as Chawla’s replacement but he will face competition from young Rahul Sharma,who has made a name for himself in the fourth season of the Indian Premier League,and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. The absence of Tendulkar and Sehwag has opened opportunities for others and among them is Tamil Nadu’s S Badrinath.

The middle-order batsman made 922 runs in Ranji Trophy during the last season. He has carried his form into the IPL. Rohit Sharma,now looking fitter and also among the runs,should make the squad.

Ambati Rayadu’s 349 runs in 10 games,made in a mature fashion,in the IPL puts him in contention for the second wicket-keeper’s slot. But a source close to the selection committee indicated that Parthiv Patel has his nose ahead in this contest. If Dhoni decides to rest then Rayudu has a good chance of making the trip as the second wicket-keeper.

BCCI secretary and convenor of the selection committee N Srinivasan said,”Fifteen members or sixteen,we will decide on the floor.

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Ashish Nehra who had to undergo surgery on his middle finger after injuring it during the World Cup semifinal is undergoing rehabilitation and that could open up a place for a seam bowler. Ishant Sharma is set for a comeback and will try to fill the shoes of a strike bowler in Zaheer’s absence. Nehra’s predicament is likely to pave the way for R Vinay Kumar or Praveen Kumar.