India squads for remaining ODIs, first two Tests to be announced tomorrow

India squads for remaining ODIs, first two Tests to be announced tomorrow: The Indian Test team for the first two matches of a 4 game affair beginning November 5 in Mohali will be picked on October 19, Monday in the national capital, the BCCI announced today. The Board President’s XI team for the 2-day (October 30-31) practice game against the visitors will also be revealed simulateneously.

The national selectors will also announce the team for the remaining two ODIs of the ongoing series. The Test and ODI outfits are unlikely to undergo major reshuffle barring injury concerns.

Test side

Most of the 15-men, who clinched a 2-1 series win on Sri Lankan soil after 22 years, are likely find a berth in the two matches in Mohali and Bengaluru. But the selection committee chaired by Sandeep Patil will have a host of issues to deal with while finalizing the entrants.

The selectors are aware of South Africa, who are ranked number one in the Test arena, so it is imperative for them to select the best possible squad with total assurance on players’ fitness.

In this regard R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma will be under the radar. Aswhin has been ruled out of the ODI series after he sustained an injury during the first game in Kanpur while Ishant experienced an unfortunate hamstring injury during a Ranji Trophy game. Even if Ishant is selected for the squad and remains fit, he is still unavailable for the first Test serving a one-match ban after violating ICC’s code of conduct.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron are likely to assist Ishant in pace bowling duties. Amit Mishra is surety in the eleven after his fantastic allround show in Sri Lanka. Ashwin is likely to be fit for the Tests and will spearhead the attack. The third spinner’s spot will go to either one of Harbhajan Singh or Ravindra Jadeja. The latter might just get the nod after picking 24 wickets in two domestic games for his Ranji team Saurashtra.

Wriddhiman Saha, who is set to be selected as the gloveman for India, has been shouldering the responsibility behind the wickets after MS Dhoni decided to quit the longest format of the game late last year. Naman Ojha who made his debut against Sri Lanka is likely to miss out.

Cheteshwar Pujara has made it difficult for anybody to question his place after a series winning hundred against the Lankans. It will be interesting to see if Rohit makes it to the eleven. KL Rahul is expected to be the reserve batsman. Stuart Binny may just retain his place after a decent outing in the final Test against Sri Lanka.

ODI squad

The Mahendra Singh Dhoni led team has seen contrasting fortunes in the first two ODIs against South Africa, but national selectors may still show faith on the current squad for the remainder of the contests. After the batting fell short of five runs while chasing 304 despite Rohit Sharma’s gutsy 150 at Green Park, the bowling did well to defend a 247-run score in Indore.

Ashwin though could still be a part of the squad as his injury does not look too serious. Harbhajan who has replaced India’s spin spearhead bowled beautifully in the 2^nd ODI leading India to a famous win.

Dhoni is also not a fan of too much chopping and changing and going by his record he may also insist for a no-change policy in the last two games. Suresh Raina’s no show in the middle order has been one cause of concern for the Men in Blue but he is a certainty as far as shorter formats are concerned.

India are placed second in the ODI rankings ahead of South Africa and will certainly have to play good cricket to hold on to their spot.