Jaffer’s inclusion: shock effects were felt everywhere

Wasim Jaffer's call-up to the Indian side for the one-day leg of the upcoming South African tour - he was a shoo-in for the Test squad - has surprised more than a few people, and then some. If India needed another opener, and a bit of a dasher, Gautam Gambhir was the man, and if a calmer presence was considered, it had to be VVS Laxman, feels Harsha Bhogle.

In his column for the Indian Express, Bhogle opines that character, rather than agility, is the need of the hour given that India’s batting is in the doldrums. Laxman's experience of South African conditions should have been a simple factor for inclusion, but unfortunately sheer batting class did not come at the top of the criteria list.

India’s options at No 3 now seem to be Kaif, Raina, Dhoni, Mongia or Pathan, given that team philosophy is to bat Dravid at No 4. But mere names do not options make and I don’t think India can look beyond Mongia or Kaif, especially since Dhoni is untested in those conditions and the team management is comfortable with his finishing skills later in the order. I get the feeling that India want to see flatter pitches in South Africa. And I get the feeling that South Africa know that!