<p> The clean sweep in the T20 series against Australia has lessened their dilemmas but selectors will debate whether new find Manish Pandey is better-suited than Ajinkya Rahane for the number seven spot when they name the Indian squads for the World T20 and the Asia Cup, here on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While most of the players select themselves after the triumphant show Down Under, there is only one selection puzzle — that of the seventh specialist batsman.<br /><br />India’s No 1 batsman Virat Kohli has been rested against Sri Lanka with in-form Manish Pandey getting a look-in for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka.<br /><br />But when Kohli rejoins the squad for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, at least one among the 15 selected for Lanka series will get the axe from the big-ticket event that is to follow in March-April.<br /><br />Since the team for World T20 is being selected on Friday, it will be unfair to drop Pandey without even having a look at him during the Lanka series that starts February 9 in Pune.<br />With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni being automatic choices, the spotlight will certainly be on Rahane.<br /><br />While there is no doubt about Rahane’s class, his ability to manoeuvre the singles and doubles in shorter formats has been questioned by none other Dhoni.<br /><br />He didn’t figure in the playing XI for the three T20 Internationals in Australia which is an indication that he is not in team management’s larger scheme of things.<br /><br />Yuvraj’s last over heroics in the third T20 against Australia have ensured his place in the team. Also, the 15 wickets he took during the 2011 World Cup with his slow-left arm spin will also be taken into account. <br /><br />As Dhoni said after the end of the T20 series, the core of team is more or less set, there could only be minor changes in the squad of 15.<br /><br />The only player, who could come into the mix is Irfan Pathan, who had a good Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, leading Baroda to the finals.<br /><br />He can be a cover with his left-arm seam bowling for the injury-prone Ashish Nehra. However, the selectors have not included him for the Sri Lanka series so there remains a question whether they would straightaway take him in the Asia Cup and World T20 squads with Hardik Pandya impressing the senior boys in the team. Pawan Negi is a cover for Ravindra Jadeja given that Axar Patel’s batting is still not up to the mark. On the other hand, Negi, the pint-sized Delhi-lad, can hit long sixes at No 8 or 9.<br /><br />Similarly, Harbhajan Singh is being seen as Ashwin’s cover and will only get a chance if the Tamil Nadu tweaker fails.<br /><br />Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back after recovering from injury and his change ups could be effective as and when he gets a chance. <br /></p>
<p> The clean sweep in the T20 series against Australia has lessened their dilemmas but selectors will debate whether new find Manish Pandey is better-suited than Ajinkya Rahane for the number seven spot when they name the Indian squads for the World T20 and the Asia Cup, here on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While most of the players select themselves after the triumphant show Down Under, there is only one selection puzzle — that of the seventh specialist batsman.<br /><br />India’s No 1 batsman Virat Kohli has been rested against Sri Lanka with in-form Manish Pandey getting a look-in for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka.<br /><br />But when Kohli rejoins the squad for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, at least one among the 15 selected for Lanka series will get the axe from the big-ticket event that is to follow in March-April.<br /><br />Since the team for World T20 is being selected on Friday, it will be unfair to drop Pandey without even having a look at him during the Lanka series that starts February 9 in Pune.<br />With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni being automatic choices, the spotlight will certainly be on Rahane.<br /><br />While there is no doubt about Rahane’s class, his ability to manoeuvre the singles and doubles in shorter formats has been questioned by none other Dhoni.<br /><br />He didn’t figure in the playing XI for the three T20 Internationals in Australia which is an indication that he is not in team management’s larger scheme of things.<br /><br />Yuvraj’s last over heroics in the third T20 against Australia have ensured his place in the team. Also, the 15 wickets he took during the 2011 World Cup with his slow-left arm spin will also be taken into account. <br /><br />As Dhoni said after the end of the T20 series, the core of team is more or less set, there could only be minor changes in the squad of 15.<br /><br />The only player, who could come into the mix is Irfan Pathan, who had a good Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, leading Baroda to the finals.<br /><br />He can be a cover with his left-arm seam bowling for the injury-prone Ashish Nehra. However, the selectors have not included him for the Sri Lanka series so there remains a question whether they would straightaway take him in the Asia Cup and World T20 squads with Hardik Pandya impressing the senior boys in the team. Pawan Negi is a cover for Ravindra Jadeja given that Axar Patel’s batting is still not up to the mark. On the other hand, Negi, the pint-sized Delhi-lad, can hit long sixes at No 8 or 9.<br /><br />Similarly, Harbhajan Singh is being seen as Ashwin’s cover and will only get a chance if the Tamil Nadu tweaker fails.<br /><br />Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back after recovering from injury and his change ups could be effective as and when he gets a chance. <br /></p>