Stick with experience, or back youth

The India selectors, while picking the one-day squad for the forthcoming tri-series, could face a dilemma between choosing from the present and planning for the future. Conditions in Australia might tempt them to pack their side with experience, but they will also know that it's the best time to throw a few rookies in the deep end.

Rahul Dravid has rediscovered some form in the Tests and would no doubt be an asset in the middle order, but whether the selectors want to look back at this point, having dropped him for the home series against Pakistan, remains to be seen. There's a case for considering VVS Laxman too, considering the fine form he's shown in the Tests, but that seems only a remote possibility at the moment.

The selectors will also have to take a call on Sreesanth and Munaf Patel, the pair of injured fast bowlers who couldn't make it for the Tests. Neither has resumed domestic cricket so far, but reported at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to Dav Whatmore on January 18. Any decision on their selection will not be made without taking into consideration their NCA report. At any rate, reinforcements will be welcome, as the attack has already been depleted with the absence of Zaheer Khan, ruled out because of a heel injury.

Most who took part in India's one-day series against Pakistan will be expected to retain their spots. Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma would be expected to make the cut - despite not doing much in the domestic circuit [Uthappa has scored 188 at 26.85, Rohit 191 at 27.28]. The selection of Gautam Gambhir, who has cracked three centuries in the Ranji Trophy [two of them match-winning ones in the semi-final and final] could well depend on the condition of his shoulder. Suresh Raina, S Badrinath and Cheteshwar Pujara could also be considered, especially given their good domestic run.

Praveen Kumar, the debutant in India's last ODI, boosted his chances with a fantastic bowling effort in the Ranji Trophy final, when he took eight wickets in an innings. Irfan Pathan should be the other allrounder while Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik will be the first-choice spinners. Piyush Chawla had made a good case of himself as an allrounder in the earlier half of the season, but has been ordinary in the semi-final and the final, especially with the bat.