Dravid dropped for the First two ODI …

The times are changing in Indian cricket and the selectors have shown their inclination towards youth by dropping former skipper Rahul Dravid from the team for the first two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan.

Virender Sehwag has been recalled and so is his Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir.

Just one and a half months back Dravid was leading the Indian team in England.

But in an indicator of things to come he was benched for the last One-Dayer against Australia in Mumbai and just 51 runs at an average of 10 against the One-Day world champions gave the selectors a chance to wield the axe once again.

"We discussed about it and we decided to give him (Rahul Dravid) a break for a while. He is great player and I am sure he will make a comeback very soon," Chairman of the selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar said in Ahmedabad on Saturday after the ODI team for the first two ODIs against Pakistan was announced.

But the trend may continue for some time in Indian cricket. Sources have told CNN-IBN that out of the three seniors - Sachin Tendulkar, Soutrav Ganguly and Dravid - the selectors want only two to be part of the playing XI.

Having the seniors in the side and asking them to warm the bench will also not go down well.

However, at the same time they know the value of Dravid as batsman and what he can still offer. But it is a shock which even Dravid didn't expect.

"I am just looking forward to the series. I am just looking forward to all the matches coming up in the season. It will be a very good season and I am really looking forward to it," Dravid has said a few days back.

Meanwhile, Sehwag's good show with the bat in the India Red vs India Green match of the Challenger series looks to have convinced the five wise men that the time was ripe to end his exile.

In fact in an earlier interview to CNN-IBN, Sehwag had said that he was itching to don India colours once again.

"I have always said that I am not changing my technique, I am only changing my temperament. I am changng my approach as an opener. I am trying to leave a few balls and wait for a loose ball to hit the boundary or sixes," Sehwag revealed.

The selectors also rewarded Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Praveen Kumar with a berth after a sensational performance in the ongoing Challenger series and India A tours.

Gambhir, too, gets his place back after recovering from injury but Dinesh Kartik misses out after some below par performances.

But after Saturday's announcement, life has certainly changed for Dravid. From ruling Indian cricket just two months back, he has now been 'forcefully rested' and asked to prove his form and fitness. It is perhaps a sign of changing times in Indian cricket and looks all set to continue.