Confusion prevails over Team India's rotation policy

Adelaide: Team India's policy of rotating its three openers, including Sachin Tendulkar, was again thrown into confusion with off-spinner R Ashwin on Saturday saying that he is not aware of the team's selection policy.

When grilled about the team's rotation policy in the pre-match press conference, Ashwin could not come up with a definitive answer.

"How do I know about the team's selection policy," Ashwin said.

India's batting line-up for Sunday's tri-series match against Australia is again likely to have a change at the top to allow youngsters in the middle order, especially Rohit Sharma, to get a hit in the centre.

The rotation policy, by logic, should now call for Sachin Tendulkar to be put on bench but indications are that the veteran would be a part of the playing eleven, implying either Virender Sehwag or Gautam Gambhir would sit out.

Media manager, GS Walia made it clear that the team's priority is to qualify for the finals of the triangular series and not rotation policy.

"Rotation doesn't mean that we have to adhere to it without seeing the interest of the team," Walia told reporters on the eve of the match.

"The first priority is to qualify for the finals," he added.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni may like to carry on with the rotation policy but the question is will the team management ask the iconic batsman to sit out of the clash against Australia at the Adelaide Oval to accommodate Sharma.