Sourav Ganguly will go through an anxious night as the national selectors meet in Vadodara on Thursday to pick the Indian squad for the first cricket Test against England, starting in Nagpur on March 1.
Ganguly, who has been in and out of the team since his infamous spat with coach Greg Chappell last year, is in contention for a berth in the middle-order, which has been thrown wide open following the injury to Yuvraj Singh.
The former captain was in the team in two of three Tests during the recent series against Pakistan but with the selectors deciding to revert to specialist opening batsmen, it remains to be seen whether the stylist left-hander makes it to the squad.
Chairman of Selection Committee Kiran More said captain Rahul Dravid would be relieved of the opener's responsibility that he had taken on in Pakistan and regular openers would be given the job.
"We have decided to hand over the job back to the specialists," More said.
The former India wicketkeeper, however, refused to reveal further details about the combination that would be fielded in Nagpur.
"We have some ideas in mind. You will come to know tomorrow when the squad is announced," he said.
Then the question will arise about who would open with Virender Sehwag, who was declared fit after having recovered from a shoulder strain he suffered while batting in the Rawalpindi one-dayer against Pakistan.
Wasim Jaffer and Gautam Gambhir were the specialist openers who traveled to Pakistan for the Tests, and both could be expected to find a place in the 15.
However, indications are that the Mumbai batsman could sneak into the playing eleven ahead of his Delhi colleague, who, given the lack of runs in recent times playing for India, would need to score heavily in the three-day tie against England at the IPCL grounds in Vadodara starting tomorrow to tilt the scales back in his favour.
The biggest issue is of course who would fill in the middle-order slot left vacant by Yuvraj.
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But it would not be a surprise if Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina win the race ahead of him.
If it is athleticism that stands in favour of the two youngsters who were part of the Ranji Trophy winning Uttar Pradesh team this season, it is sheer talent that might force the selectors to fast track the younger of the two.
Raina is seen as a precocious talent and could get a look in ahead of Kaif, although it would be a misfortune to befall the latter.
Another surprise could come in the spin department with Piyush Chawla, another Uttar Pradesh player, being given a chance to show his wares at the senior level.
In Chawla's case, it is his ability with the bat combined with his leg spin prowess that could clinch the issue.
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