KL Rahul, who has been in prolific form this season, is in contention for the reserve opener’s slot for the Australia tour. (Source: File photo)

Following five straight overseas Test series’ losses, starting all the way back in England in 2011 and coming a full circle earlier this year, the national selectors have the unenviable task of picking India’s long-format squad for the upcoming tour of Australia when they meet in Mumbai on Monday. A day before the announcement of the squad, The Indian Express looks at the sureties on the flight to Brisbane, and also at the possible surprises.

Openers

Murali Vijay was the shining light in England with 402 runs in 10 innings, including a century and two half-centuries. But he lacked support at the other end. Shikhar Dhawan scored 122 runs in the first three Tests before making way for Gautam Gambhir, who could only manage 25 runs in four innings at 6.25. The selectors are likely to persist with Dhawan and drop Gambhir. Robin Uthappa and KL Rahul, both from Karnataka, are in contention for the reserve opener’s slot. Rahul scored 1,033 runs at 68.86 in the last Ranji season.

The 22-year-old has carried forward his form this term with a century in each innings of the Duleep Trophy final. Rahul Dravid believes the youngster is ready for Test cricket. It needs to be seen if the Sandeep Patil-led committee agrees with him or falls back on Virender Sehwag’s experience. It, however, would be a big surprise if the 36-year-old — or Gambhir for that matter — make the squad.

No.3 — No.7

India’s top/middle order has a young and talented core in Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, which is unlikely to be disturbed. It is learnt that at least a couple of selectors are tinkering with the idea of bringing back Suresh Raina to the Test fold. The left-hander has been in fabulous form of late in limited-overs cricket, but hasn’t played Test cricket since September 2012. Still, Team India director Ravi Shastri has backed his return to the white flannel format rather vocally.

Eighteen players were picked for the Tests in England. Considering a similarly sized pack is carried to Australia, Ambati Rayudu could just get a look in considering his recent ODI form and with the fact that the sources in the BCCI panel claim that India will in all likelihood revert to the conventional six batsmen, ‘keepr MS Dhoni and four bowlers approach.

Pacers

Umesh Yadav was surprisingly omitted for the Tests in England. The selectors are expected to correct the wrong and pick him this time.

Other four fast bowlers, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron select themselves. However, Aaron suffered a right quadriceps injury during the first ODI of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. The Jharkhand quick hasn’t bowled even in the nets since. But sources close to him suggest that he will be fit in time for Australia.

Shami, too, is expected to recover fully from a toe injury that kept him out of the ODIs against West Indies and also the series against Sri Lanka. Pankaj Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ishwar Pandey will be in contention if an extra seamer is needed.

Spinners

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to continue as India’s two lead spinners. But leg-spinner Karn Sharma is considered to be a dark horse. Sharma was picked for the limited-overs leg in England.

His first-class record (1,087 runs in 34 matches at 25.88; 66 wickets) is decent enough to worth a mention.