The national selectors are unlikely to spring any surprises when they meet in Chennai on Monday to pick the squad for the Test series against New Zealand beginning in Ahmedabad on November 4. The squad is likely to be picked for the first two Tests.
The injured trio of V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma are expected to recover in time for the first Test. If Laxman (back injury), Gambhir and Ishant (both knee) all are declared fit, then Abhinav Mukund and Jaidev Unadkat will be left out of the XV picked for the second Test against Australia.
“Apart from that, there is not much to choose from because all those who played against Australia are going to retain their berths. There is no chance of resting anybody now and all those who want to be fresh for the SA tour (in December) can be spared during the ODI series (against NZ),” said a source.