Unlike the Kiran More-led selection committee in early 2000, the one headed by Dilip Vengsarkar from 2005 or the committee headed by Krishnamachari Srikkanth from 2007, the present bunch of selectors can pick and choose from a wide range of cricketers to fill in the urgently replaceable slots.
Thanks to a very formidable top and middle-order, committees headed by More, Vengsarkar and Srikkanth did not have many opportunities to make wholesale changes. However, Sandeep Patil & Co can make the most of the job they're being paid for.
By dropping Virender Sehwag for the last ODI against Pakistan and then for the first three ODIs against England, a statement has been made that repeated failure will not be tolerated. Barring the 219 in Indore, an innings that was alone responsible for catapulting his average beyond 50, Sehwag has averaged less than 25 in the last 20 ODIs and has been dropped for that very reason.
His opening partner Gautam Gambhir - who was awful in the three ODIs against Pakistan - survived the selectors' axe but looks clearly out of his comfort zone.
Patil and his team can take note that the left-hander's growing inability to protect his off-stump - the manner in which he's either dragged deliveries on to the stumps or completely missed the line - urgently needs him to get back to the domestic circuit and sort out the technical glitch. Gambhir needs a break.
By drafting Cheteshwar Pujara into the ODI scheme of things and allowing Rahane the breathing space in the eleven, they've sounded out Gambhir but there's already been a slip-up in allowing the southpaw to continue.
Further, Rohit Sharma's presence in the middle-order continues to baffle the entire selection policy. In the last 16 matches, barring the 68 in the Asia Cup against Pakistan at Dhaka, Sharma's middle-order touch has been found desperately wanting.
Instead, the right-hander's impressive showing in the longer format in Ranji Trophy should deserve him an opportunity in Test cricket while ensuring he gets a break in the 50-over format.
Most current Indian top and middle-order batsmen have runs to show when the team tours Sri Lanka. Or at least that is the story statistics tell. Three of Suresh Raina's four half-centuries in the last 18 ODIs have come playing in Sri Lanka. Found wanting at venues like Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, Raina's batting has blossomed mostly on placid tracks of Sher-E-Bangla and Premadasa.
Sandeep Patil and rest of the selectors have an opportunity here to blood young men at will, something their predecessors couldn't. An opportunity has been missed already in getting Unmukt Chand to don the senior cap post the Under-19 World Cup win. Punjab batsman Jiwanjot Singh's run glut this season, Manoj Tiwary's perennially worsening luck in the present musical-chairs scenario, opportunities for Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu are certainly not showing cricket's emerging India story in good light.
Less of a blinkers-on approach and more of a hands-on attitude might just help these wise men.
TONS OF RUNS, BUT NO CALL-UP...
Gaurav Gupta takes a look at a few players, particularly batsmen, who can replace our star non-performers...
Wicketkeeper
Parthiv Patel (Gujarat): From playing for India at 17 to not even being included in the India 'A' and Irani squad earlier this season, he has seen it all. The 27-year-old was determined to prove a point this season, and he did it in style. Parthiv scored runs by the bucketful to emerge as one of the top run-scorers of the season.
M: 8; Runs: 895; HS: 162; Avg: 68.84; 100s: 3; 50s: 6
All-rounder
Abhishek Nayar (Mumbai): The left-hand bat and right-arm medium pacer has been doing consistently well for Mumbai. Got a break back in 2009, but was excluded after just three games. The 29-year-old has been in superb form this season, stroking three hundreds and seven fifties.
M: 9; Runs: 852; HS: 122*; Avg: 142.00; 100s: 3; 50s: 7; Wkts: 16; BB: 6-13; Avg: 23.18
Openers
Jiwanjot Singh (Punjab): The 22-year-old opener is enjoying a dream debut season, having scored four hundreds, besides a fifty so far. He started off with a 213 against Hyderabad on debut.
M: 9; Runs: 785; HS: 122*; Avg: 65.41; 100s: 4; 50s: 1
Unmukt Chand (Delhi): The 19-year-old led India to victory in the U-19 World Cup with a brilliant hundred against Australia. He couldn't do much in Ranji Trophy this season, but could still be blooded on the basis of raw talent.
M: 8; Runs: 445; HS: 138; Avg: 37.08; 100: 1; 50s: 3
Middle order
CM Gautam (Karnataka): The 26-year-old is the season's top run-scorer so far, and looks set to be the first to cross 1,000 runs this season. Gautam hit 264 not out, his highest first-class score, against Maharashtra in the last league game.
M: 9; Runs: 938; HS: 264*; Avg: 134.00; 100s: 3; 50s: 2
Ambati Rayudu (Baroda): Received his maiden T20 call-up recently, but couldn't make his debut. Led Baroda from the front this season, taking responsibility with the bat.
M: 8; Runs: 558; HS: 131; Avg: 50.72; 100: 1; 50s: 6
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