Shami, Ojha also included in list of 30-member probables
New Delhi: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan were named among the thirty players selected for a preparatory camp ahead of the series against South Africa.
Also included were pacer Mohammed Shami and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who is back with a remodelled action.
Shami has been battling injury problems since the World Cup in Australia earlier this year, where he played a crucial role in India’s run to the semi-finals, picking up 17 wickets in seven matches at an average of 17.29.
The 25-year-old had suffered a major knee injury after that tournament and had to undergo a surgery, which left him bed-ridden.
Jadeja on the other hand, has been overlooked for India’s last three series, all of which were ovreseas tours.
The 30-player list for the camp also includes Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The Uttar Pradesh seamer was ignored for the recnt tour to Sri Lanka and will be raring to prove himself again in national colours.
Talented medium-pacer Mohit Sharma has also been included in the camp. The right-armer impressed the critics during the World Cup and the 26-year-old will probably be justified if he considers himself a strong candidate for selection.
The 72-day tour, which gets underway on October 2, will start with three Twenty20 Internationals. They will be followed by five one-dayers and four Test matches.
The probables:
Mahendra Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav Varun Aaron, Karun Nair, Suresh Raina, Mohammed Shami , Axar Patel, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohit Sharma, Karn Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Dhawal Kulkarni, Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey. (IANS)