...And then there were 15

Here's our 15 man squad to the World Cup:

Automatic Picks
1. Rahul Dravid
Captain.
2. MS Dhoni
First choice wicket keeper and a match winner with the bat. The other wicket keeper choice - Karthik- is not quite at Dhoni's level yet.
3. Zaheer Khan
He was dropped for form and attitude, spent some time in the wilderness, got back into shape, started bowling like his life depended on it and is back into the team with a bang. There is a lesson there somewhere and it is apparent (from the recent axing of Sehwag and Pathan) that the Selectors have learned it well. Now, the worry is that they might become "drop happy" and drop players without giving them a fair shake.
4. Harbhajan Singh
Yes, we would pick Harbhajan before we pick Kumble. Harbhajan has been very good in ODI's.
5. Sachin Tendulkar
We were quite surprised when we saw that Tendulkar has more runs (480) than Ricky Ponting (460) for the 2006/07 season and his average (36.92) is only slightly lower than Ponting's (38.33). Sachin has always done well in the World Cup. For cricket's sake, lets hope this continues.

That leaves us with 10 other spots.

Not so Automatic Picks
6. Saurav Ganguly
He has been batting well and more importantly has shown that he is willing to sacrifice his body to safeguard his wicket in South Africa. We never questioned his talent, only his hunger for runs. We are satisfied that he is a man on a mission to prove his detractors wrong. That is enough for us.
7. Sreesanth
Sreesanth sucks in ODI's but he is a match winner and though it pains us to pick him and not Anil Kumble, we will give up the odd boundary for couple of quick wickets. So, Sreesanth is in and Kumble is out (more about that later). Hearing what Dravid had to say before the 4th ODI, it doesn't seem like Sreesanth is going to make it. But, he should.
8. Yuvraj Singh
Coming off of injury we don't know how his batting form is. The next few matches will give him opportunities to bat himself into form. Also, his fielding is needed inside the circle.
9. Irfan Pathan
How the mighty have fallen. In early 2006, Pathan could do no wrong. Now, he is out of the team. His batting is still solid but India does not need more batsmen, what India needs is the old bowler back. The next few matches will determine the state of Pathan's bowling form.
10. Suresh Raina
We like him because he is a talented middle order batsman and an excellent fielder. Yes, he hasn't done well with the opportunities he's been given and the coming ODI's with Sri Lanka will seal his fate. We think he will squeak through.
11. Robin Uthappa
Explosive batsman and a good fielder. Is in great form and deserves a chance.
12. Munaf Patel
He hurt his chances in South Africa by showing up not fully fit. Has 4 more ODI's to prove his fitness. If he can bowl at his usual pace in the matches he's given a chance, he will be in the team.
13. Dinesh Karthik
Will pip Gautam Gambhir and make it to the team. Will keep wickets if Dhoni gets injured or will play as a specialist middle order batsman. Also, an excellent fielder.
14. Ajit Agarkar
We still don't like him. But we are beginning to respect him. Can he maintain his bowling form for the next 15 games? That's all we want. Anyway, he gets into the team at Kumble's expense. Indians have enough part time spinners (Sachin, Yuvraj, and Sehwag). Kumble has done yeoman service for the Indian team and he would be our first choice spinner in a test match but with Harbhajan taking the lead spinner role and all of our part time spinners, it's doubtful if we will ever play two spinners in a game.
15. Virender Sehwag
All Sehwag has to do is get a few runs in the next 4 ODI's and he will be in the team. Selectors are looking for an excuse to include him in the team and the only way he won't make it is if he is a total flop.