Selectors expected to make very few changes for Pak ODIs

The national cricket selectors are unlikely to spring any major surprise when they would meet in Ahmedabad to choose the Indian team for the first two ODIs against Pakistan at Guwahati and Mohali.

The national cricket selectors are unlikely to spring any major surprise when they would meet in Ahmedabad on Saturday to choose the Indian team for the first two ODIs against Pakistan at Guwahati and Mohali.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, who went out of the team following an injury, has since then returned to the Twenty20 team in the one-off tie against Australia on October 20 and is set for a recall to the ODI side too.

The big question is who will he replace 8211; the out-of-form Dinesh Kartik or his Tamil Nadu mate S Badrinath, who was his replacement in the India ODI squad against Austraia.

But Badrinath has shown impressive form with scores of 42 and 82 for India Red in the first two ties of the N K P Salve Challenger Series which is in progress in Ahmedabad.

Another player who is on a comeback trail after a long injury lay-off since February, Suresh Raina, has also staked a claim with a superb inngs of 92 on Thursday for India Blue against Red.

With his added abilities as a top-class fielder inside the ring the selectors might be tempted to bring him back.

Will they choose his youthful exuberance in place of the solidity of a proven performer like Dravid in the high- profile series against Pakistan in the initial stages itself is a big question.

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Dravid had a poor series against Australia with a string of low scores 8211; 7, 0, 13, 0, 31 8211; in the five matches he batted before he was rested for the final ODI on October 17 and replaced by Kartik.

Even in the latter part of the Natwest Series in England 8216;The Wall8217;s8217; form was poor 8211; indicated by scores of 0,4, 24 and 1 8211; in the last four ties.

But with his impressive track record to back his claims, the selectors will be taking a gamble by replacing Dravid with Raina, and it8217;s more likely that he will replace another youngster in the team 8211; Rohit Sharma 8211; who did not have many chances to show his worth in the series against Australia.

Selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar had also said that they would not be opting for a rotation policy to juggle the seniors like Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

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According to Vengsarkar, these three mainstays have got the needed break going into the five-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Three other players who are trying to stage a comeback into the squad 8211; Virender Sehwag, Munaf Patel and Mohd Kaif 8211; have looked unimpressive so far in the Challenger Series.

The trio is not expected to be called back to the team, going by their present indifferent form.