The hit parade of Indian openers continues, as the national selectors dropped Sidhu and replaced him with Sanjay Manjrekar for the all-important final of the Titan Cup - a day-night clash at Bombay's Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, November 6.
Manjrekar's recall presumably stems from one factor - against Saurashtra on Sunday, he captained Bombay to a win in a one-dayer and, more to the point, carried his bat through a chase of a target of 274, scoring 127 runs off 133 balls with 12 fours and a huge six.
Manjrekar had earlier announced his desire to try for the opener's slot in the national team and had, in fact, opened in the India A eleven during the Challenger Trophy preceeding the Titan Cup. Therefore he was available, and the selectors perhaps picked him simply because they had run out of options.
What is intriguing is l'affaire Sidhu.
After two less than impressive outings following his recall to the side, Sidhu failed to take the field as the team defended its total of 289 against Australia at Mohali. The excuse given was a bruised forearm.
Said forearm was reportedly bruised while batting against Australia.
In the event, Sidhu played 25 deliveries, scored 11 runs, and was run out - the second time in two outings. At no time did he fall, at no time did the ball hit his forearm. So the precise nature of the injury remains as much a mystery as some of his earlier injuries.
In any case, Aashish Kapoor fielded for Sidhu throughout the Australian run chase. And immediately after the game, the national selectors got together via the telephone, and picked Manjrekar to replace Sidhu for the crucial final against South Africa.
It does open up an intriguing possibility. Manjrekar is an accumulator, not a heavy-handed hitter. Against Australia, Tendulkar showed indications that he had shifted out of his defensive mode, and was back at his aggressive best. Could the selectorial thinking revolve around Tendulkar going on the at- tack again in the final game (a good ploy, actually, given that against South Africa, India will require as rapid a start as it can get) and allow Manjrekar to anchor the innings, which frees the likes of Azharuddin and Dravid to bat more freely around him?
We'll know soon enough, won't we?
Meanwhile, Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar has indicated that he will decide between Aashish Kapoor and Robin Singh in the playing eleven on the day of the match. ``It will depend on what kind of wicket we have, and whether in our estimation it will take spin or no,'' Tendulkar said.
The Indian team will arrive in Bombay later this evening from Mohali, after the nail-biting win against Australia in the last league game on Sunday. South Africa, meanwhile, arrived in Bombay on Monday morning, and promptly went straight to the nets for an extended workout. Two more workouts are scheduled for the visitors, Tuesday morning and evening, ahead of Wednesday's final.