Chennai: Senior batsman Yuvraj Singh was recalled but pacer Umesh Yadav was dropped from the 15-member Indian cricket team announced on Monday for the Twenty20 International and three ODIs against Australia, starting October 10.
Yuvraj, who last played for India against England in an ODI in Dharamsala last January, was recalled after a string of fantastic scores for India A against West Indies A and a solid display for India Blue in the recently-concluded NKP Salve Challenger Series.
Yuvraj scored 337 runs in five List A matches at an average of 67.40 with a highest score of 123 against the touring Caribbean side. He also scored a quickfire 52 against West Indies A in a T20 game in Bangalore.
With his more than useful left-arm spin as back-up, Yuvraj is certain to play an important role in that Indian bowling line-up in the middle overs.
Yuvraj replaced Dinesh Karthik, who did not do much since his comeback save a lone half-century in the Champions Trophy.
Opener Murali Vijay, who hasn’t set the limited-overs stage on fire was also dropped from the squad announced by the selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil.
One of the notable exclusions was pacer Umesh Yadav, who did not do his case a world of good by performing poorly in the Challenger Series, giving away 67 runs in 10 overs and a whopping 85 runs in 9 overs in the two matches he played for India Red.
Bengal speedster Mohammed Shami, seasoned Karnataka seamer R Vinay Kumar and promising Saurashtra left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat were retained from the pace attack that played its last international series in Zimbabwe.
Haryana paceman Mohit Sharma was dropped from the squad while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma made a comeback after well deserved rest. Bhuvneshwar bowled India Blue to Challenger Series triumph with a four-wicket haul in the final.
Squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Shar-ma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Rai-na, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ash-win, Ishant Sharma, Bhuv-neshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jaydev Unadkat, Amit Mish-ra, Ambati Rayudu. (PTI)
