While Yuvraj Singh had set himself up for a place in the Indian test squad, the BCCI selection committee today sprung a surprise by bringing back Harbhajan Singh for the upcoming test series against England.
Murali Vijay and Ishant Sharma have also been brought back for the series. Despite a good run of form, Ajinkya Rahane has been chosen as the reserve batsman. However, Suresh Raina has been dropped. This squad is for the first two Test matches against England.
The race for the no 6 slot was up for grabs and Yuvraj Singh seems to have convinced the selectors with his domestic form. He scored a double-hundred (208*) in the Duleep Trophy and did well playing for India ‘A’ against England— scoring a half-century and taking five wickets. In the same match, Suresh Raina managed to score just 20.
With turning tracks expected to be laid out for the visitors, Yuvraj’s handy bowling may also have played on the minds of the selectors. Harbhajan may have also got the call for the same reason.
In the bowling department, Umesh Yadav’s 5-18 in the first innings, as Vidarbha routed Haryana by eight wickets, consolidated his already confirmed place in the Test team.
Ishant has also got the nod in and compounded with Zaheer Khan’s groin strain, he could well find himself as one of India’s most important bowlers this series. R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha will be the spin spearheads.
England’s tour of India 2012 consists of four Tests, two Twenty20 matches and five ODIs.
The first Test starts on 15 November at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad and the final Test will start on 13 December at the Vidarbha Stadium in Nagpur.
Team for first two Tests: MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Zaheer Khan.
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