India’s loss is Karnataka’s gain. With the national selectors opting to ‘rest’ former skipper Rahul Dravid for the first two one-dayers against Pakistan, the 34-year-old right-hander will link up with leg-spinner Anil Kumble in State first-class colours for the first time since 2000 when Karnataka begin their Ranji Trophy Elite Division campaign later this week.

Placed in Group ‘A’, Karnataka will welcome the presence in their ranks of two of the greatest cricketers the State has produced as they run into defending champions Mumbai from November 3, right at the start of their season. Kumble will lead the team while Dravid will look to play himself back among the runs after a lean trot, as much for confidence as anything else.

The last time the two stalwarts played together for Karnataka was against Rajasthan at the RSI grounds in February 2000. Dravid made 71 and 149, and Kumble picked up crucial second-innings wickets as the hosts scored an important win that gave impetus to their campaign. Vijay Bharadwaj will be hoping that, in his first match as Karnataka coach, the presence of the senior pros will inspire his team to hold their own against the holders.

There are few surprises in the 15-man team released on Monday evening. There is a return to the squad of paceman NC Aiyappa, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, as well as of batsman Sudhindra P Shinde, who didn’t figure in the scheme of things for the entire last season, when Karnataka reached the semifinals before bowing out to Bengal.

There is a fair sprinkling of youth in the shape of batsman KB Pawan, left-arm spinner KP Appanna, paceman S Dhananjaya and wicketkeeper-batsman Devraj T Patil, the only uncapped member of the squad, though it will largely be on experience, and the Kumble-Dravid combine, that Karnataka will bank for a perfect start to their season.

The squad: Anil Kumble (capt), Yere Goud (vice-capt), Rahul Dravid, Barrington Rowland, KB Pawan, C Raghu, VS Thilak Naidu, B Akhil, Sunil B Joshi, R Vinay Kumar, NC Aiyappa, Sudhindra P Shinde, Devraj T Patil, KP Appanna, S Dhananjaya. Coach: Vijay R Bharadwaj. Manager: R Sudhakar Rao. Physio: V Muthu Kumar.