India's selectors are set to pick the squad for the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka and the four-Test series in Australia in Mumbai on Monday afternoon. The selection for the Test series was postponed on November 4.

One of the main issues that Sandeep Patil's men will have to deal with is India's opening options. While M Vijay is a certainty, Shikhar Dhawan is likely to retain his place despite being dropped for the last two Tests in England earlier this year. The reserve opener's slot will fuel a lot of discussion.

While a few members of India's revamped management are of the opinion that Virender Sehwag will be a great asset in Australia, team director Ravi Shastri said in recent media interactions that "form" will be the main criterion for selection going into the next year's World Cup. Sehwag hasn't done anything of note since then. His three innings this season have fetched him 32 (for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final), 11 and 0 (for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy), so Sehwag is unlikely to get the nod.

Despite Gautam Gambhir having scored a big hundred in the Duleep semi-finals, his technical deficiencies had been exposed during the last two Tests in England. As a result, the selectors are likely to look beyond these seasoned openers.

It is understood that the Karnataka duo of Robin Uthappa and KL Rahul are prime contenders for the reserve opener's position. While Uthappa made a return to India's one-day side in Bangladesh earlier this year, Rahul has been in a scintillating touch, as was evident during his twin hundreds in the Duleep Trophy final last week.

Umesh Yadav, who has impressed during the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, is set to make a return to the Test squad. It is understood that Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron, both of whom have been sidelined due to injuries, are likely to recover in time before the first Test begins on December 4.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma are certainties in the line-up. It will be interesting to see if the selectors retain Pankaj Singh or Ishwar Pandey in the squad.

While Wriddhiman Saha, who had made way for Naman Ojha as the back-up wicketkeeper mid-way through the England Tests, is set to regain his place, it will be interesting to see if Ojha is considered for the reserve batsman's spot. After scoring three successive centuries, including a double, during India A's tour to Australia earlier this year, Ojha followed up with a double-ton during the Duleep Trophy semi-final.

The decision on whether to pick three spinners and Stuart Binny, who played three Tests in England, will depend on the strength of the squad. India have of late preferred to tour for Test series with unusually big squads. While 18 players were selected for the five-Test series in England earlier this year, 17 toured Australia for India's last Test series there three years ago.