Sachin Tendulkar last played an ODI during India's victorious CB Series campaign in March this year © AFP

Sachin Tendulkar is likely to return to the one-day side when the squad is picked for the last four matches of the England series in Kanpur on Thursday, a selector indicated. Tendulkar had requested the selectors to leave him out of the first three ODIs after a strenuous Test series against Australia.

One of the selectors, speaking to Cricinfo, hinted at Tendulkar's return and felt it was imminent. "The very reason that he had only asked to sit out for only the first three games in enough indication," the selector said.

Tendulkar last played an ODI during India's victorious campaign in the CB Series in March this year. Subsequently a groin injury that he picked up in Australia, kept him out of the Kitply Cup and Asia Cup and later an elbow injury forced him out of the series in Sri Lanka.

If Tendulkar returns, M Vijay, whose impressive Test debut against Australia in Nagpur earlier this month got him called up for the first three ODIs against England, could be left out. With Ishant Sharma declared match-fit the selectors are unlikely to make any other change to the winning unit.

India squad (likely): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, Virat Kohli.