MUMBAI: If you needed a ready reckoner to figure out what the Indian cricket team for the 2011 World Cup would look like, just throw a glance at the squad named for the five-match One-Day International series against South Africa on Tuesday.
The 16-man ODI squad will also form the group for the one-off Twenty20 game.
While Sachin Tendulkar, fresh from a 11-month ODI lay-off makes an expected return, the selectors, headed by chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth, picked Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner Piyush Chawla for what will be the last five ODI matches for the Indian team before the World Cup in the subcontinent from Feb 19.
Missing from the squad were Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma and Dhoni-clone Saurabh Tiwary. Chawla's inclusion meant that Ravinder Jadeja did not find a place, and it seems unlikely that his dreams of a World Cup spot would be fulfilled.
Wicketkeeper-bat Parthiv Patel may feel aggrieved after a good show against New Zealand, but a second stumper for the World Cup could be a luxury, considering the fact that the tourney is being played in the subcontinent and a replacement can be flown in immediately.
Keeping in view the series as a final World Cup preparation, Tendulkar, skipper MS Dhoni, opener Virender Sehwag and seasoned campaigner Harbhajan Singh all who had been rested from the five-match series against New Zealand at home recently, make their way back.
Man in dashing form Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and all-rounder Yusuf Pathan too have been given their appointed places.
The pace bowling section includes Zaheer Khan, backed by Sreesanth, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel. IPL-find off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin joins Harbhajan and Chawla in the spin-bowling club.
While Srikkanth refused to comment on the selection, sources said the choices were straight and there wasn't much to debate about. "The inclusion of an extra paceman and spinner in the side for the series in South Africa is to figure out the form and fitness of the bowlers," said one in the know of things.
India surely will not retain three spinners in the final 15 for the World Cup, and even one of the pacers may make way for a batsman or a couple to walk in. Rohit Sharma and Saurabh Tiwary hence, could still be considered later.
Team for T20 and ODI series in South Africa: MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth.
