LAHORE, April 9: India are uncertain who will open the innings in the deciding third Test against Pakistan next week with Aakash Chopra likely to be dropped due to the return from a back injury of captain Saurav Ganguly.

The 31-year-old Ganguly will be back at the helm in Rawalpindi and his replacement for the first two Tests, Yuvraj Singh, is also almost certain of making the team after a 59 in the first Test at Multan and a blistering 112 in Lahore.

"Everyone knows Yuvraj will play," Ganguly said this week and, though he did not specify who would be excluded, opener Chopra is the weakest link in a batting order boasting Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman.

Critics are divided on who should be promoted up the order but former captain Sunil Gavaskar feels wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel is the man for the job after his unbeaten 62 in the second Test, which Pakistan won by nine wickets to level the series 1-1.

"Parthiv's gumption will no doubt earn him a promotion to the opening slot for the third Test so that Ganguly can come into the 11," Gavaskar, India's most successful opener, wrote in his weekly newspaper column on Friday.

The 26-year-old Chopra, who made his debut against New Zealand at Ahmedabad last year, had proved invaluable in India's surprise 1-1 Test series draw in Australia earlier this year.

But while he was praised for his ability to stay at the wicket for long hours, he was criticised for failing to keep the scoreboard moving. Chopra's Test average over eight matches is just 28.13. In the second Test at Lahore, he scored four and five in the two innings.

"Chopra, after his twin failures will unfortunately have to make way, though he has played his part in the big scores that the others have put up by being the anchor at the other end, " Gavaskar added.

One option is to ask Yuvraj to open. The 22-year-old, who has played 94 One-day Internationals, opened for Punjab in domestic cricket this season to bolster his chances of winning a regular Test slot after failing to break into the strong middle-order. But some experts feel having an irregular opening pair would be a step back for India, who have tried 41 different combinations since Gavaskar retired in 1987. -Reuters