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CHENNAI: The top players will be busy in South Africa for the Champions Trophy, but the Irani Cup from October 1-5 may assume some significance.

The Mumbai versus Rest of India game is likely to mark the return of Virender Sehwag to competitive cricket after a four-month injury lay-off.

It's understood that the selectors want him as the Rest of India skipper as well, but it's to be seen whether the BCCI brass gives its nod during the selection meeting here on Thursday. Sehwag had said a few days back in the media that he doesn't want to become India captain any more which hasn't gone down too well with the Board mandarins, who have a strong dislike for players with opinion.

Captaincy or not, Sehwag may look to use the Irani Trophy as a practice platform before the Champions League, which starts from October 8. VVS Laxman could also have got a good hit before the Champions League, but the selectors are more keen on having a look at the likes of M. Vijay, Mohammad Kaif, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli.

There can be some debate regarding the keeper's slot, with Wriddhiman Saha and Parthiv Patel in the fray. While Parthiv scored more runs last season, Saha, who hardly got a chance for Bengal to bat atop the order, has impressed one and all with the quality of keeping.

The Bengal boy excelled in the Emerging Players' tournament final in Australia with the bat as well and the selectors would do well to groom him for the big league. Paceman Munaf Patel and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha will get their chances to prove that he should have been there in the Champions Trophy squad, while S. Sreesanth, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Sudeep Tyagi and Pankaj Singh will fight for three other pacers' slots. However, all of them will be in the teams for the Challenger Series, which will take place in Nagpur from October 8-11.

The event, though, will lose sheen due to the absence of the top Indian stars, who will look to get a bit of rest after the Champions Trophy.