MUMBAI: Opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan returned to a squad of 15 members of Indian cricket after recovering from injury, even as the main batsman Sachin Tendulkar decided to skip the tour of Sri Lanka Limited off from July 21.
Sehwag, Zaheer, along with the young Umesh Yadav pacemaker, had sat outside the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March due to fitness problems. While Sehwag was nursing back spasms and a shoulder injury, Zaheer and Umesh also had buts.
Tendulkar, who has only played two ODI series from the 2011 World Cup and is now a Rajya Sabha of the Parliament, was made available for selection for the tour Lanka, who have five ODIs and a Twenty20 international.
Ajinkya Rahane Young Mumbai batsman Tendulkar has been replaced in the side. The other change from the side of the Asia Cup is the inclusion of spinner Pragyan Ojha left arm instead of off-road as Ravindra Jadeja.
The committee, which took the team at a meeting on Wednesday, also decided to include Umesh at the expense of Praveen Kumar.
"We have the best equipment available. Sachin is not available. I think it's a very good team that has very strong batting line-up and good players and we are sure you will do well in Sri Lanka," committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth selection told reporters after announcing the team.
There was no place for feisty off-spinner Singh Harbhajan, who suffered indifferent form during the IPL and has now signed with English county side Essex, which followed the selectors ignore him, while Rahul Sharma remained on the side. The team will have three spinners and low bouncing and spinning tracks in Sri Lanka.
The team also will have seven specialist batsmen, locks of four and a captain in wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The team has had poor results from the second half of last year, after being bleached in the Test series in England and Australia before failing to reach the finals of the Asia Cup.
"It's a long season ahead and I think we will get back to winning ways. Sachin wants to extend his career. He should be the goal for England and Australia (series later this year). He is the spacing that went very well, "said Srikkanth.
"I do not really want to emphasize whys are difficult. We must consider what has been selected," he said.
The rest of the staff remains the same with Virat Kohli retention selectors as vice-captain, a position that the youth of Delhi took Gautam Gambhir opening during the Asia Cup.
"Virat Kohli has been appointed vice-captain, the idea is continuity. Virat has hundreds brilliant after becoming vice captain who shows that he likes the responsibility," said Srikkanth.
Aggressive all-terrain but inconsistent Yusuf Pathan was ignored after failing to make an impact in the IPL, along with his brother Irfan.
In Sri Lanka, India will play a five ODI series between July 21 and August 4 followed by a one-time international Twenty20 on August 7.
A little over a month off from touring Sri Lanka Twenty20 World Cup and, to be played in the same country.
Sehwag, Zaheer, along with the young Umesh Yadav pacemaker, had sat outside the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March due to fitness problems. While Sehwag was nursing back spasms and a shoulder injury, Zaheer and Umesh also had buts.
Tendulkar, who has only played two ODI series from the 2011 World Cup and is now a Rajya Sabha of the Parliament, was made available for selection for the tour Lanka, who have five ODIs and a Twenty20 international.
Ajinkya Rahane Young Mumbai batsman Tendulkar has been replaced in the side. The other change from the side of the Asia Cup is the inclusion of spinner Pragyan Ojha left arm instead of off-road as Ravindra Jadeja.
The committee, which took the team at a meeting on Wednesday, also decided to include Umesh at the expense of Praveen Kumar.
"We have the best equipment available. Sachin is not available. I think it's a very good team that has very strong batting line-up and good players and we are sure you will do well in Sri Lanka," committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth selection told reporters after announcing the team.
There was no place for feisty off-spinner Singh Harbhajan, who suffered indifferent form during the IPL and has now signed with English county side Essex, which followed the selectors ignore him, while Rahul Sharma remained on the side. The team will have three spinners and low bouncing and spinning tracks in Sri Lanka.
The team also will have seven specialist batsmen, locks of four and a captain in wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The team has had poor results from the second half of last year, after being bleached in the Test series in England and Australia before failing to reach the finals of the Asia Cup.
"It's a long season ahead and I think we will get back to winning ways. Sachin wants to extend his career. He should be the goal for England and Australia (series later this year). He is the spacing that went very well, "said Srikkanth.
"I do not really want to emphasize whys are difficult. We must consider what has been selected," he said.
The rest of the staff remains the same with Virat Kohli retention selectors as vice-captain, a position that the youth of Delhi took Gautam Gambhir opening during the Asia Cup.
"Virat Kohli has been appointed vice-captain, the idea is continuity. Virat has hundreds brilliant after becoming vice captain who shows that he likes the responsibility," said Srikkanth.
Aggressive all-terrain but inconsistent Yusuf Pathan was ignored after failing to make an impact in the IPL, along with his brother Irfan.
In Sri Lanka, India will play a five ODI series between July 21 and August 4 followed by a one-time international Twenty20 on August 7.
A little over a month off from touring Sri Lanka Twenty20 World Cup and, to be played in the same country.
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