Rahul Dravid, who was recalled after two years to the Indian one-day side in August, has been dropped for the first two games of the seven-match series against Australia.
Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh return to the squad after injury-enforced absences, displacing Dravid and Dinesh Karthik.
Dravid had been selected for his experience (in the context of Sehwag’s absence) and his technical ability in testing conditions. His comeback, which realised 180 runs at 36, included innings of 39 in the final of the tri-series in Sri Lanka and 76 against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Tricky decision
The selectors, who had a tricky decision to make, chose to invest in Virat Kohli, who had replaced an injured Gautam Gambhir in Sri Lanka and Yuvraj in South Africa. The selectors have also stayed with 21-year-old fast-bowler Ishant Sharma, who has had a difficult time of late.
Sehwag has recovered from the shoulder injury that kept him out of the series in the West Indies, the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy.
He played the Irani Cup and is currently representing Delhi Daredevils in the Champions League.
Yuvraj, however, is in doubt for the first ODI in Vadodara on October 25. After returning from South Africa with a fractured finger, the left-hander was recently monitored at the National Cricket Academy.
“The selectors have been advised that Yuvraj Singh would definitely be fit to play on 28th October (second ODI),” said a BCCI media release. “It is possible that he may be able to play the first match also. The decision on the playing eleven for the first match will be made based on Yuvraj Singh’s fitness on 25th October.”
The other changes involve Yusuf Pathan, R.P. Singh, and Abhishek Nayar being replaced by Ravindra Jadeja, Munaf Patel, and the uncapped Sudeep Tyagi.
Yusuf and R.P. Singh have struggled in recent times: since June this year Yusuf averages 11.75 in eight matches; R.P. Singh averages 53.20 runs per wicket and 5.91 runs per over since his comeback in the West Indies — a period during which he has managed only five wickets in eight games.
Nayar has had limited opportunities in his three ODIs: he has had one innings (zero not out) and three overs (for 17 runs).
He couldn’t press his case in the Challenger Trophy, scoring seven in his only innings and finishing with figures of none for 21 from two overs the only time he bowled.
Selectors impressed
Munaf, Jadeja and Tyagi have, on the other hand, impressed the selectors over the last month.
Munaf after a vital five-wicket haul in the Irani Cup emerged the highest wicket-taker in the Challenger Trophy.
Jadeja contributed a crucial 77 in the Irani Cup and bowled economically in the Challenger Trophy.
Tyagi claimed five wickets at 18 with his seamers in three Challenger Trophy matches, including three wickets in the final.
“Sehwag and Yuvraj are world-class match-winners and they strengthen the side,” said Krishnamachari Srikkanth, national selection committee chairman, after Thursday’s meeting at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. “This is the best available team.”
The squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain-wicketkeeper), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Shrama, Amit Mishra, Munaf Patel and Sudip Tyagi.
