The finalized Indian line up has been announced but it is shocking to see that Gautam Gambhir won't be accompanying Virender Sehwag as always onto the field to open for India. Instead, Shikhar Dhawan, also from Delhi. The selectors are no longer pleased to have a player who failed to perform successively for the last three years. Sehwag who has also not been in his prime was however retained on the team but this should send him a strong signal that the selectors are now not worried about experimenting with the starting line up.

It has been over 28 innings since the Delhi-ite openers scored a 100 run partnership. The last one was more than two and half years against South Africa in Centurion when they scored 137. Gambhir's performances were worse yet with over three years passing before a century.

It could be only the fear of meddling with both opening slots or else Sehwag might also have been in trouble. Will the new experiment establish Dhawan as a full time opener pushing Gambhir to lower numbers or worse? Yes or no is uncertain but this clearly is one opportunity Dhawan can utilize to make his name more heard, especially against a strong team like Australia. However, that will also be his biggest challenge.

(AW- Anil)