Yuvraj Singh is all set to regain hisspot in the Indian Test squad when the new national selectionpanel, headed by Sandeep Patil, sits down tomorrow to pickthe team for the series-opener against England at Ahmedabadfrom November 15-19.
Though skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that theleft-handed batsman was the best judge of his fitness for therigours of Test cricket after having undergone treatment forcancer, it looks unlikely that the selectors will leave himout of the squad.
Yuvraj came back into the Indian team that flopped in theTwenty20 World Championship in Sri Lanka and then struck adouble century for North Zone against Central Zone in theDuleep Trophy tie at Hyderabad, his re-entry into first classcricket.
Chosen for India A against the England cricketers in thetourists opening three-day warm-up game at the BrabourneStadium here, Yuvraj scored a fine 59 with seven fours andfour sixes and then grabbed a career-best first-class haul offive wickets.
Yuvraj last played a Test match against the West Indieslats year in Kolkata.
In all probability, he would come into the squad in placeof S Badrinath who had taken the spot of the retired V V SLaxman.
Yuvraj's likely competitor in the playing XI, SureshRaina, too is expected to retain his position though he lookedunconvincing against the England pace attack when leadingIndia A at the Cricket Club of India. He made 20 and 19 notout in the drawn game.
Raina had one fifty and two single digit scores in thetwo-Test rubber against New Zealand at home. But for a 78 inthe opening match of the away series he played againstEngland, Raina was a total failure, and also bagged a pair inthe fourth and final Test.
The rest of the squad members, barring surprise selectionPiyush Chawla, are expected to retain their places. Chawla,who had last played a Test in 2008 against South Africa atKanpur, was a surprise choice by Srikkanth and co. but sat inthe reserves during the two-Test rubber against the Kiwis.
It could be a toss-up between Chawla and Harbhajan Singhwho was recalled for the World Twenty20 championships for thethird slow bowler's slot.
Ajinkya Rahane is likely to be the third opener alongsideregulars Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir while the middleorder picks would be Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, CheteshwarPujara and the duo of Yuvraj and Raina along with Dhoni toprop up the latter order.
Pace picks are expected to be Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadavand Ishant Sharma, who were in the squad against New Zealand,with the bowling attack completed by spin twins R Ashwin andPragyan Ojha, supported by Harbhajan or Chawla.