India search for right answer

While Raina was earlier considered a direct replacement for Wriddhiman Saha — dropped after a woeful debut — the situation has changed with Laxman’s return. Only two out of three players — Raina,Vijay and S Badrinath — can now make it to the final XI and,according to highly placed sources,Raina looks set as of now to make his debut,leaving a difficult choice between between Vijay  (227 runs in four Tests) and Badrinath (who impressed the selectors with a fifty on debut).

“The team management thinks the left-handed Raina,who is a good player of spin bowling,can upset Harris’s plan and rhythm. Of course,the final decision will be taken after reaching Kolkata and seeing the conditions there,” the team source said.

A national selector,who did not wish to be named,added that it was likely Vijay would be retained in the playing XI. “He hasn’t done badly. He was out to a brilliant Dale Steyn delivery in the first innings,and played well in the second. He is the right choice at No 3 in Dravid’s absence,” the selector said. While one would have expected Badrinath’s half-century to insulate him for the Eden Gardens Test,the India batting order is bound to see some readjustments.

There could be some changes in the bowling attack as well,with the most notable difference going into the Kolkata Test being that,after a string of average performances,Harbhajan’s place in the side does not remain a certainty. “After Anil Kumble’s retirement,Harbhajan was the clear spearhead of the spin attack,but so far he has failed live up to the expectations,” the selector said.

With the No.1 Test ranking on the line,the think-tank have a lot to take care of before Sunday’s fixture.

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