New Delhi: The new national selection committee will meet on Wednesday in Mumbai to pick the squad for the first two Tests against Australia. And all indications are that for now there won't be too much tinkering. One debate is bound to take place though: how to get the middle order muddle sorted.
As the boss of a new selection committee, former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth faces a tricky choice on who to saddle with the responsibility to bat against a strong bowling attack. Continue reading below
Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid will keep their place in the middle order, which leaves four men to battle for two spots in the 15-man squad. It's a challenge Srikkanth is already aware of.
"There are times when there are three people who are equally good and are going to be fighting for one spot, and you might have to just select one. So which is the correct one, that is going to be a big challenge," Srikkanth says.
Sources tell CNN-IBN that three men are on the radar.
S Badrinath, who has done all he could have at domestic level and as captain of India A, many believe his time is now, while back from the wilderness is Mohammad Kaif to resurrect a career that seemed doomed till not so long ago.
On the other hand is the risk of picking Yuvraj Singh, asked to lead the Board President's XI, but a new selection committee may consider giving him a new lease of life.
But could there could a joker in the pack? Sourav Ganguly is a long shot for yet another comeback, and the words of the outgoing selectors will resonate in the ears of the new men when they pick the squad.
"Basically it's entirely on them (the seniors). I know they have done this day in and day out for so many years with their hard work. But they should realise when the time is up, because it will be sad if you're phasing them out," reasons outgoing South Zone selector Venkatapathy Raju.
The timid middle order collapses in Sri Lanka rang the warning bells loud and clear for Indian cricket. Now the first steps towards building for the future are about to be taken.
