<p>After Rohit Sharma flattered to deceive as an opener in the big games of the Super Eights in the ICC World Twenty20, the Indian selectors want to have a genuine opener as a replacement for the injured Virender Sehwag for the four-match ODI series against the West Indies.<br /><br />
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<p align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt">Ajinkya Rahane</span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table>The Indian squad for the Caribbean series starting June 26 will be picked today.<br /><br />Sharma started impressively as an opener but failed against West Indies and England as India were knocked out in the Super Eights stage. Young Mumbai opener Ajinkya Rahane has a good chance of grabbing the opener's slot. Tamil Nadu's Murali Vijay is the other name the selectors are considering, it is learnt.<br /><br />Along with Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan is also likely to beu00a0 rested. The certainties are: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma.<br /><br />Dinesh Karthik may be fitted in as a third opener, middle-order batsman or second wicketkeeper. As for the replacement of Zaheer, it will be a toss-up between Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and Dhaval Kulkarni. Irfan Pathan is unlikely to make the cut.<br /><br />India play four ODIs against West Indies with two games being scheduled in Jamaica (June 26 and 28) and two in St Lucia (July 3 and 5).</p>

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the Indian selectors want to have a genuine opener as a replacement for the injured Virender Sehwag for the four-match ODI series against the West Indies

Rahane contender for opener's spot on West Indies tour

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Rahane contender for opener's spot on West Indies tour

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