Team India selection: Munaf, Jadeja likely to replace Pathan, RP

After the disappointments in two world events T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy India's national selection committee is set to ring in a few changes for the seven-match ODI series against the visiting Australians.

The selection committee, led by Kris Srikkanth, will meet n Thursday to pick a 14-member squad and in all probability will pick the side for the first two ODIs.

The bowling has been the weakest link in recent past with Zaheer Khan out through injury and Ishant Sharma struggling for form.

If insiders are to be believed, Munaf Patel and S Sreesanth could make a comeback in place of Ishant and RP Singh.

It is believed that MS Dhoni is keen to have Ishant in the side and if the skipper has his way, Sreesanth will have to wait for another day. Young pacer Sudeep Tyagi's name will also be discussed in the meeting.

The batting department, bolstered by the return of Virender Sehwag poses a different kind of problem.

What about Dravid?
In all likelihood, Sachin Tendulkar will open with Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir will bat at number three. Yuvraj Singh, if fit, will bat at four and this means Rahul Dravid will find it difficult to make it to the playing XI since the team would like him to play up the order.

However, news is that the selectors want to give Dravid an opportunity to bow out of ODIs in style and hence the veteran batsman will be a part of at least the first few games.

Though Dravid did better than the youngsters in the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy, the selectors are keen on building a side for the 2011 World Cup and one of the selectors is likely to have a talk with Dravid.

The axe is also likely to fall on Yusuf Pathan, who has been in poor form. But an insider revealed that one selector is keen to have Pathan in the side as he can be quite a handful on docile Indian wickets.

If Pathan does not stay in the team, all-rounder Ravinder Jadeja will be the replacement and Mumbai's Abhishek Nayar will retain his place on the basis of not having enough chances to prove his worth so far.