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Rested players likely to return for India

The Indian national selectors meet in New Delhi on Monday to pick the team for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, with the knowledge that they have had little gains from the tri-series in Zimbabwe

Cricinfo staff
06-Jun-2010
Rohit Sharma could put pressure on more than a few batsmen who didn't perform to expectations in Zimbabwe  •  AFP

Rohit Sharma could put pressure on more than a few batsmen who didn't perform to expectations in Zimbabwe  •  AFP

The Indian national selectors meet in New Delhi on Monday to pick the team for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, with the knowledge that they have had little gains from the tri-series in Zimbabwe. The only man to push the nine players who were rested is Rohit Sharma, who scored back-to-back centuries in Zimbabwe. The other big question will be the bowlers: none of the bowlers who represented India in Zimbabwe were first-choice.
The selectors will also be hoping for a return to fitness for Virender Sehwag among others. If Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni are fit and willing to go, the final two places in the starting XI will be contested between Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli and Rohit. India could take all eight batsmen to Sri Lanka, but that would mean sacrificing one of the allrounders'. Yusuf Pathan is anyway pretty close to the end of the rope. The choice then could be between an extra batsman and R Ashwin, who impressed with bat and ball in the only chance he got in Zimbabwe.
The selectors will hope Praveen Kumar is fit after a side injury forced him out of the World Twenty20. Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra should come back, leaving an interesting choice for the back-up seamer. Ishant Sharma could get the nod again. Harbhajan Singh will definitely walk back in, and Pragyan Ojha should pip Amit Mishra for the second spinner's slot after an impressive showing in Zimbabwe.
There were two unconfirmed reports late on Sunday evening that Tendulkar might pull out and that Yuvraj and Nehra might be left out as disciplinary action. Those, however, could not be confirmed with BCCI sources.
Squad from: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma