Selectors to announce Indian squad for Sri Lanka tour on Thursday

Amit Mishra could be picked for the series

The only real decision that remains for the selectors for picking a squad for India’s tour of Sri Lanka is the choice of the third specialist spinner. Sandeep Patil and his National Selection Committee are to announce the squad on Thursday in New Delhi, but this is the only surprise that is expected. Another interesting decision that the committee will make is whether to elect a fifteen member squad or a sixteen member one.

Thirteen players in the squad are almost certain. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, Captain Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and India A team captain Cheteshwar Pujara are the six batsmen who will definitely be in the squad. The seventh batsman is likely to be K L Rahul, who was considered before too but had to back out of the Bangladesh series due to dengue.

Wriddhiman Saha is another player who is a certain selection as first-choice wicket-keeper. If a sixteenth member is chosen, that would also make a provision for the second wicketkeeper. Naman Ojha or Sanju Samson might be considered for this spot.

Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the clear-cut choices when it comes to the pace attack. Varun Aaron may be considered too, depending on his recovery.

R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh are sure to be chosen too, but the real question is who will the committee choose between Axar Patel and Amit Mishra?

Karn Sharma would have been most likely chosen, but his fracture rules him out. Haryana’s 32-year old Mishra thus gets a golden chance.

Mishra’s Test match record has been good. Overall, he has taken 43 wickets in 13 Test matches.