Indian cricket selectors to name team for last two ODIs, Australia tour

Indian cricket selectors will pick the squad for the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka and the four-Test series in Australia in Mumbai on Monday afternoon.

In focus during the meeting, will be India's opening options. While M Vijay is a certainty, Shikhar Dhawan is likely to retain his place despite being dropped for the last two Tests in England earlier this year. The reserve opener's slot is up for grabs.

According to the cricinfo web site, Karnataka duo of Robin Uthappa and K L Rahul are prime contenders for the reserve opener's position. While Uthappa made a return to India's one-day side in Bangladesh earlier this year, Rahul has been in a scintillating touch, as was evident during his twin hundreds in the Duleep Trophy final last week.

Umesh Yadav, who has impressed during the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, is set to make a return to the Test squad. It is understood that Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron, both of whom have been sidelined due to injuries, are likely to recover in time before the first Test begins on December 4.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma are certainties in the line-up. It will be interesting to see if the selectors retain Pankaj Singh or Ishwar Pandey in the squad.

While Wriddhiman Saha, who had made way for Naman Ojha as the back-up wicketkeeper mid-way through the England Tests, is set to regain his place, it will be interesting to see if Ojha is considered for the reserve batsman's spot. After scoring three successive centuries, including a double, during India A's tour to Australia earlier this year, Ojha followed up with a double-ton during the Duleep Trophy semi-final.

The decision on whether to pick three spinners and Stuart Binny, who played three Tests in England, will depend on the strength of the squad.