Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
India's selectors must stop playing around with talented cricketers if they want their team achieve consistency at the top level.
Yuvraj Singh now finds himself dumped from the team to tour Sri Lanka after a poor run of form in Australia early this year. Just before that tour, all those who mattered in Indian cricket were singing praises about the left-hander after his brilliant century against Pakistan.
Since the Australian tour, Yuvraj has found some form in one-day cricket. No harm would have been done if he were chosen in the reserves to keep his confidence level up.
Instead, two wicketkeepers are in the team for the short, three-Test encounter. The two countries being neighbours, two keepers were not needed because a reserve could be flown out easily if injury was to strike the incumbent one.
Illogical selections have always been the bane of Indian cricket. It will continue to do so unless radical changes occur to the selection process itself.
Otherwise, the selectors have trodden the conservative path for the tough series ahead. The four seniors - Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman are back. India will not have it easy in Sri Lanka. The home team always raise their game on their territory and bowlers thrive in the conditions.
A new danger man is also lurking. Ajantha Mendis has done so well in his short stint at the top that he will pose the biggest challenge for the Indians.
They failed miserably against him in the Asia Cup final and the Indian batsmen will have to do a lot of homework if they want to counter him.
That will not be the end of the story. There is Muthiah Muralitharan waiting for a turn on his favourite hunting grounds.
Sri Lanka's fast bowling options have also grown recently. Chaminda Vaas is as reliable as ever while Lasith Malinga, if fit, and Dilhara Fernando add firepower.
The biggest question will be whether India's ageing stars can find their feet again quickly at the top level. The veterans have been out of the top level for a longish spell and it won't be easy for them to get going instantly.
India's fast men also could be a cause for worry. The plethora of one-day cricket will be a major issue as they readjust their line and length to the five-day variety. And the pace men have been known to spray it about even otherwise.
The Sri Lankans have had a bad run of late. The victory in the Asia Cup came at the right time and hunger for more glory is returning. India's biggest plus point is that they have class in their batting line-up. That will have to tell now.
