India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2009: Indian Squad

Indian squad for the first two tests of the 3-match test series against Sri Lanka has been announced. There are 15 players in the squad including an extra batsman in M Vijay who debuted for India during home series against Australia last year. However, the selection has raised some questions.

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First of all, selectors include 14 players for a home series, but Indian selectors decided to include 15 players including 9 batsmen and it is quite unusual because in no condition India can play more than 7 batsmen in a test match. In fact, playing 6 batsmen would be ideal. So, the inclusion of two extra batsmen in uncapped S Badrinath and M Vijay is not justifiable as both of them have hardly any chance to make it to the final eleven for the either of the first two test matches. Moreover, they will miss Ranji Trophy match, even though they do not need to stay with the Indian team.

Secondly, India named three spinners: Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and uncapped Pragyan Ojha who toured Sri Lanka last year, but did not play any test match as Harbhajan and Kumble were filling in the spinners’ slots. I am not surprised to see three spinners in the squad because Indian wickets traditionally help spinners. What surprised me is that selectors pricked up only three pacers: Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth in the squad, even though India very often plays 3 pacers in the final eleven. That means India has no back up pacers, if the team decides to play 3 pacers. In stead of including 9 batsmen, selectors should have named an extra pacer.

Moreover, I do not see any reason for Munaf Patel losing his place in the test squad, despite having a very good test form. His recent form in longer versions of the game in domestic cricket has been excellent, and there is no justification of excluding someone on the basis of his limited over form. If it is so, then Ishant Sharma should have been excluded too. Furthermore, Zaheer Khan has just come back from injury, while you can not rely on Sreesanth who has returned to Indian squad after 19 months. I think, Munaf Patel should have been included in stead of S Badrinath in the squad.

Here, I am giving the Indian squad for the first two test matches against Sri Lanka from Reuters:

Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Pragyan Ojha, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Subramaniam Badrinath.