How about a case for someone like SS Paul? While the likes of Irfan swing it and Munaf or RP Singh hits the deck, he can just bowl a line and length for a really long time. He's been in the FC scene for some time, taking over 100 wickets bowling that way. Come to think of it, even Sanjay Bangar should make the side. What has he done wrong that other seamers haven't? Even India's 'best' seamers are inconsistent, (some are) underpowered and lack pace. Yet they've been treated like kings when they've played for India, but have only flattered to deceive. Bangar has done what the captain wanted of him, and bowled well for a stock seamer. Moreover, he's also a very hard hitter of the ball and can score runs in chunks, with a healthy average for a bowler, and since we've had the likes of Jaffer, Kaif and an over-the-hill Laxman playing for India, he's definitely an option.
As for the young pacers in action, Sreesanth has the same problems as Agarkar and won't last long, and a replacement should be groomed, maybe Munaf Patel. It's a good thing to give these big young tykes a Test debut, but they need some experienced hand to guide them, in a match or otherwise. VR Singh bowled well at the tail, and the rising deliveries can make an impact in a match, but he sprays the ball around too much. He needs more FC or A-team experience to develop into an India frontliner, but there's a Harmison or Simon Jones or Ntini or Andre Nel in him. Munaf's done well to bowl as a third, or even second seamer. And of course, they need Irfan more than ever, even with his reduced pace, since he can still move the ball well.
The Test team bears a very fragile look at the top. Wasim Jaffer was brought in to replace Gautam Gambhir, who often helped the team get off to chunky starts at a good run-rate. Reason? Gambhir didn't get too many big scores, and Jaffer was supposed o be an instant fix. And what happens? Jaffer struggles to even get a start, and more often than not, there's an early wicket falling, either his own or Sehwag's. Gambhir has reason to feel hard done, while Uthappa may also be an option, since he's been picked to open in one-dayers as well.
Keeping these ideas in mind, the ROI team should haev Sehwag and Gambhir/Uthappa as openers, and a bowling attack of Irfan, Zaheer/Munaf, RP Singh, Bangar/JP Yadav and Kumble. The middle-order picks itself and this should be a trial run for the Indian side.
