Here we go!

While the toughest tests are more than two months away — the home series against Australia and South Africa — they have a long build-up. At least 13 ODIs spread over four series will help them check on the progress made in the shorter version of the game.

It’s a good enough number to plug a few holes in the one-day team for, even though it may look a settled outfit, the one-day squad still has a few grey areas:
• Support bowlers
• Captain’s batting position
• Regular wicketkeeper
• Fitness of the strike bowlers
• The No 7 batting slot
• Lack of all-rounders

The variety of pitches and of opponents over the next two months should give the team management an idea of who the right personnel are heading into the showpiece Champions Trophy in September. Before that, though, the team has to take the first few steps of the season very carefully. Starting this Friday, when they square off against UAE at Sri Lanka’s best Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, the team will need to focus on the long road ahead.

FAVOURITES TAG: It’s safe to say that, though six teams are in the fray, the Asia Cup will be a three-horse race. And with Pakistan being a divided house and Sri Lanka battered and bruised by the Australians, the tag of the best team in Asia currently fits India best. This is, however, a double-edged sword. The protracted schedule, especially in the second phase, could just be the distraction the Indians don’t need. In the VB Series in Australia earlier this year, the itinerary ensured that India played the last stretch with the lowest level of interest.

TOUGH CHOICE: The batting order, 1-7, largely selects itself. The problem comes in deciding which bowlers to leave out. The form book would suggest that Pathan and Balaji should get a look-in, though the team management may go along with seniority. There is a question mark against the others. Harbhajan and Zaheer are in without being tested in a match whereas Nehra has a history of breaking down early. As for Kumble, the first couple of tournaments would decide where his one-day career is heading. He is not getting any younger and is a liability on the field and with the bat.

This is also the most crucial phase of the careers of Pathan and Balaji. They would do well to remember the toughest part, as cricket history shows, is to perform in the second year. The world has had three months to look at the videos and analyse the duo, so there would be less of the element of surprise and fewer easy days. There is a risk — though minimal, given the class of the players — in last season’s hype going up in smoke.

The batsmen, as stated, select themselves; the problem is, who bats where. The captain wants to open, but so do Tendulkar and Sehwag. Laxman’s place in the order would be defined by where Ganguly bats. The graceful Hyderabadi is not quick enough to work the slog overs, so it is probably best that he bats at No 4.

PLAY MUNAF: The team’s schedule is such that it will be restricted to playing in and around home for the next year and a half. A mix and match of different combinations would be essential so perhaps the selectors ought to have looked at a younger and much fresher bowler in Munaf Patel. Thrown in on flat pitches would have tested his mettle, and on lively pitches the batsmen’s,but that was not to be.

OZ-PHOBIA: As skipper Ganguly himself admitted, India have to somehow get over the Australia phobia in the one-dayers. The Aussies have the wood, as they say, over the Men in Blue, but India should make use of the one-off situations like the Holland tri-series to peg it back some. It is essential by the time the Aussies land in September India’s one-day wing is settled.

That’s when we can tackle the the next question: Who will open in Tests?