India Vs Australia: Focus on Rishabh Pant in last selection call

Barely 48 hours before the five wise men of Indian cricket were to assemble to pick the team for home T20I and ODI series against Australia — the last series before the World Cup in England — Shane Warne came up with some free advice for them.

Whether or not MSK Prasad & Co follow the legendary Warne's suggestion is up to them, but if there is anything that looks settled in Team India after its bowing unit, it is the left-right opening combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

Warne might be swayed by Pant's heroics but he has probably not followed the Delhi wicketkeeper's career progress from his junior days, for those who have know his vulnerability against swing bowling. And with two new balls in play in English conditions, the Delhi southpaw's technique could become a liability at the top during India's English sojourn.

That said, Pant's recent overseas exploits in both Tests and the limited-overs format make him a definite X-factor for India.

And, with MS Dhoni's finishing prowess at a decline, Pant could well be Virat Kohli's trump card in a middle order not entirely settled.

Much of the focus on Friday, thus, will be on Pant, considering he was not part of the Indian ODI teams against Australia and New Zealand earlier this year

In all probability, the Indian selectors are likely to pick 16, instead of the usual practice of 15, for the home series against Australia.

There are at least a dozen names — Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal — as certainties for the World Cup.

That leaves the selectors to fill three gaps in the jigsaw puzzle for the 15-member squad that will board the flight to England. And for that, they will look for a third opener, the extra wicketkeeper-batsman, a fourth pacer and an all-rounder.

Rahane or Rahul?

Till a few months ago, Ajinkya Rahane was considered India's best batsman in overseas conditions. But surely and steadily, his confidence has been shattered by some questionable decisions of the team management.

From being once considered Kohli's replacement as Test captain, Rahane has now been reduced to a shadow of his prime. And if at all the selection panel goes back to Rahane, it might be seen as going a step backwards.

But his solid technique and sound temperament may tempt the selectors to try him out as a third opener or a No. 5 batsman against Australia.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, can't blame anyone for being out of the team as he was given ample opportunities before being dropped from the squad.

Second 'keeper-bat

Pant fits in better for both these roles ahead of Dinesh Karthik. While the latter has showed encouraging signs of being banked upon as a finisher in the last few ODIs, Pant's powerful strokeplay and the X-factor label could tilt the tide in his favour.

Plus, Pant is the only other left-hander in the current set-up apart from Dhawan.

Trying out Unadkat

With Pandya in team, India are unlikely to play three specialist pacers in the playing XI in the World Cup.

However, there is still a need for a back-up speedster given the fact that both Umesh Yadav and Khaleel Ahmed have failed to cement their places. This may open up an opportunity for experienced left-armer Jaydev Unadkat. Both Yadav and Unadkat are likely to be tested against the Australians before a final call.

Jadeja vs Shankar

If the team management goes in for one at the expense of an extra pacer, there can be no better bets than either the tried-and-tested Ravindra Jadeja or Vijay Shankar, the latest kid on the blocks.

If Jadeja has the ability to hit some lusty blows towards the end along with his left-arm spin and electrifying fielding skills, then Shankar can boast of being a medium-pacer suited best for English conditions.

The selectors are likely to test both of them against Australia.