Tendulkar, Harbhajan likely to play Oz tri-series
Sachin Tendulkar could be selected for the tri-series in Australia when the selectors meet to pick the team here on Sunday.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: January 14, 2012 05:36 PM IST
Sachin Tendulkar could be selected for the tri-series in Australia when the selectors meet to pick the team here on Sunday. According to reports, Sachin, who has not played ODI cricket since the World Cup final in April last year, is keen to feature in the tri-series that involves Australia and Sri Lanka.
Reports also suggest that Harbhajan Singh, who has been out of favour with the selectors due to his poor form, could also get the nod depending on his fitness. Many experts have said that India are missing the services of Bhajji, who has been quite successful in Australia, in the ongoing series Down Under.
Pacers Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan are also expected to be named in the 16-member Indian squad.
Praveen has been out with a rib injury but is likely to come back as he has been bowling regularly in the practice games at the National Cricket Academy.
Yuvraj Singh has already been ruled out of the series as he is yet to fully recover from a non-malignant lung tumour.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Manoj Tiwary appear to be automatic choices among the batsmen. If Tendulkar decides to play ODIs, then Ajinkya Rahane could face the axe.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also look set to retain the two spinners slot.
Umesh Yadav can also be expected to retain his place after impressing one and all with his bowling in the Test series.
With Varun Aaron likely to be unavailable due to a stress reaction, the selectors may opt for Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda to partner Yadav.
If Zaheer is available, then the choice for the fifth seamer's slot will be a toss-up between Munaf Patel, if he is fully fit, and R Vinay Kumar.
(With inputs from PTI)