Why I don't want to be Rahul Dravid.

It is not the first time that the Indian Team selection has been met with a lot of heat from both the media and the experts alike. It has become customary for the yapping to go on for a few days and finally die down when the tour opener begins. This tour is no different. Questions about the selection of Ganguly, Zaheer, Parthiv and Jaffer surfaced all over. The case of Dinesh Karthik, Murali Karthik, Balaji and Kaif were discussed with equal vigour. As usual everything has died down and the focus shifted to the Tour opener against Pak A where all the batsmen scored half-centuries as if to justify their case for selection to the Pongal Test.

This time is quite unique. Every batsman selected for the tour is in the pink of fitness and form. The captain is in a spot where he has to pick the playing eleven and ensure that his decision doesn't backfire at home or in the playing field. In the previous series against Sri Lanka, Rahul had it easy because the selectors did the job for him. But now, with Ganguly's inclusion and the positive outcome of Yuvraj's exposure in the previous series, Rahul has to make the decision of who to leave out.

Positions 8-11
Considering that Ganguly's selection, this time around, is based on his batting prowess and not his allrounder abilities, four regular bowlers will be picked for the First Test match. While Irfan is a sure shot, the other three slots are at Rahul's disposal.

Position 7
Dhoni is sure to retain is position as a wicket keeper batsman. The selection of Parthiv Patel for the Tour is a joke. Even if Dhoni suffers from severe diarrhea due to excessive milk consumption, he will be forced to keep wickets.

Position 5-3
Laxman, Tendulkar and Rahul are automatic. Laxman will have to show strength in batting with the tail. But Rahul's liking for Laxman will assure a berth.

Openers
It is a tough choice to make. Shewag will be selected for the first test based on his past exploits in Pak. But he cannot be complacent to ensure his place in the second test.

It is hard to make a choice between Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer for the other opening slot. I think Chappel and Dravid will make the decision by asking them to run a 100 metre race or "lucky draw". I will place my odds on Jaffer. But not more than $5.

Oh I missed one position. The sixth one
Well that is why I don't want to be Dravid for the next few days.

Sixth position
Yuvraj made use of the opportunities that he got in the Sri Lanka series with two well made seventies. He has also scored a fifty in the tour opener. He has made no mistakes since his inclusion into the team and his form has never been better. Infact he was the best of all the batsmen in the SL series.

Ganguly had to skip the tour opener as he was asked by the Board to play in the domestic match against TN. He obliged and did well by scoring fifties in both the innings. He also shone with the ball by picking up three top order wickets before he was shown the Red Card for stepping on the danger area. To his credit, Ganguly has done well inspite of pressure in every outing (except for the rain-marred Chennai test) since the drama unfolded.

Rahul will not be comfortable in making either one of them sit. His decision may backfire. If he decides to play both of them.
Will Laxman suffer?
Will someone be forced to fake injury to accommodate both Yuvraj and Ganguly?(like falling in the bathroom a la Jayasurya)
Will Ganguly be asked to open at the cost of Jaffer/Gambhir?
Will Parthiv be asked to open at the cost of Jaffer/Gambhir and Dhoni.

To me the last option will cause the least damage to the sentiments although it can prove costly at the centre.

Now does anybody around wants to wear Rahul's shoes? I will take a rain check.