Indian selector against 'drastic changes'

Sanjay Jagdale, one of India's national selectors, has dismissed the idea of replacing senior players in the side with youngsters. "I do not know where these theories originate from," Jagdale, who represents central zone, told the Hindu. "When we sit for a selection meeting, we only look at the merits of a player. We do not look at this senior-junior business.

"How can you overlook somebody like Sachin Tendulkar or Sourav Ganguly and [Rahul] Dravid when they still have a lot more to offer?"

The triumph at the ICC World Twenty20 last month prompted calls from various sections to include more young players in the team, instead of retaining older ones.

But Jagdale believes Twenty20 is a completely different form of the game and its demands should not be confused with those of one-day cricket. "I am against drastic changes made on the emotion of the moment. A side should be built gradually with the seniors in the frame. You cannot throw in all the youngsters against sides like Pakistan and Australia."

Jagdale also backed Rahul Dravid as a one-day batsman and was confident that he would soon be back in the runs. "It was only a couple of months ago that he made a match-winning 90-odd in just around 70 balls against England in Bristol," Jagdale said. "It was one of the finest one-day innings I have seen. How can he become a bad player in a matter of days?

"This game is all about confidence. Dravid has been there before and I am sure he will be back." Dravid made 51 runs at 10.20 - including two ducks - from the first six ODIs against Australia.