New Delhi, March 8: There may be a shroud of secrecy over Team India’s gameplan for the World Cup, but one peek inside reveals an interesting blueprint — at least for the opening phase. You will come across a final XI packed with batsmen, including a set of “impact players” who will push the team through the crucial middle overs.

On the team sheet, this would mean seven batsmen and four bowlers, with Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Dhoni expected to play key roles. Tendulkar, at No 4, is expected to take the scoring reins around the 12-20 overs phase, Yuvraj, at No 5, during the 20-30 overs period, and Dhoni thereafter. Hopefully, holding fort at the other end will be comeback man Sourav Ganguly in the opening overs and skipper Rahul Dravid later. In this blueprint, you will also find Virender Sehwag, struggling for form and focus, slated to get one final shot as opener, with Ganguly.

And then, at No 3, you might just raise your eyebrows again: Robin Uthappa. After that 41-ball 70 against West Indies, and the 37-ball 52 last month at No 3 against India’s Group B rival Sri Lanka, the team thinktank is convinced that Uthappa can shock and shake any opposition, softening them up for the big bats of Tendulkar and Yuvraj. They also expect the 21-year-old Bangalorean to take charge of the early run rate, in case Sehwag fails again.

Apparently, there was a move to reopen the old opening firm of Ganguly and Tendulkar, but the Mumbai superstar is expected to have a bigger impact in his new role. Other then handling the crucial middle, Tendulkar is also expected to “confuse” the rival brainstrust, forcing them to “reserve their best bowler” for him. Dinesh Kaarthick may find a slot at a later stage in the World Cup.

On the bowling front, the names of Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Munaf Patel are slotted against the pacers’ column. Fit-again Zaheer, after the burst of glory in South Africa, and Agarkar, who was the best during last year’s Caribbean tour, are expected to be the key wicket-takers.

The accurate Munaf is expected to do a mini-McGrath, pinning them down in the middle overs. Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan will form the pace back-up, though it is unlikely that the Baroda left-hander will get to play at all. This also explains why the team was not too affected by the huge controversy surrounding Pathan’s sore shoulder. But interestingly, if Pathan does play in the odd match, he is expected to be more useful as a batsman, at No 3.

Then, there’s the lone spinner, and it’s not Kumble. Harbhajan Singh, who seems to have developed into a valuable ‘death’ bowler, will be unleashed first, with Kumble expected to come into action later on — for the big games.

Of course, this blueprint is subject to change at any stage, with flexibility being the management’s mantra. But, for now, it is one they believe will take Team India through the tense opening act of the biggest show of them all: World Cup 2007.