MUMBAI: One distinct feature that separates the current selection committee from the previous one is the clarity of thought in the selection process.
The Sandeep Patil-chaired team has gone about its business with an air of surety and so far the going has been smooth. The players they have plucked out from domestic cricket haven't let them down and they have done away with ageing stars without dragging their feet on the issue.
However, the teams that they have picked since November 2012 were for bilateral series played at home. Their real test begins on Saturday when they pick the 15-member squad for the final edition of the Champions Trophy to be played in England from June 5.
The debate on the eve of the selection was whether the performances in the annual T20 league should be a factor for selection. The reason being that India last played a one-day series in January when they hosted England for a five-match rubber and the selectors having nothing to fall back on but the ongoing tournament to judge the players' form.
Another issue that will determine the selection is the conditions in England which will be in stark contrast to the ones prevalent at home.
The selectors are likely to go in with a combination of eight batsmen, five pacers and two spinners. In the batting department there could be a discussion surrounding the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik. Rahane's form has deserted him in recent times and he has a few technical issues to sort out. The Mumbai batsman has been vulnerable to in-coming deliveries, a chink exposed by the England bowlers, especially Steve Finn.
On the other hand, Karthik seems to have taken his game a notch higher. It's also worth reminding that Patil has had time for the Tamil Nadu 'keeper's abilities since 2004, when he was the India 'A' coach. Incidentally, Karthik had broken into the Indian team then for the Champions Trophy in England.
In the bowling department, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Praveen Kumar are likely to make the cut. There could be a toss-up between Vinay Kumar and Irfan Pathan for the fifth bowlers' slot.
Vinay has been amongst the wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore but Irfan's all-round skills, could tilt the scales his way, despite him not doing anything of note lately.
Amit Mishra's form is too obvious to be missed. But it is a well known fact that the leg-spinner doesn't quite inspire confidence in captain MS Dhoni.
Likely 15: MS Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane/Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan/Vinay Kumar.
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