Virender Sehwag marked his return to the Indian squad for the first two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan at home, while former captain Rahul Dravid was given a 'rest', BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah announced on Saturday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was retained as skipper for the matches, while Yuvraj Singh remained the vice-captain. Dhoni, however, was not present at the press conference.
Announcing the team in Ahmedabad during the ongoing Challenger Series, Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said that former captain Dravid, who relinquished his position after the tour of England to concentrate on his batting, was given a rest after a disappointing home series against Australia.
Dravid wasn't included in the seventh and final ODI in Mumbai. Vengsarkar, however, said that Dravid was only given a rest for the first two One-Dayers and there was every chance for him to mark a return for the rest of the series. "He is a great player. I'm sure he will be back very soon," Vengsarkar added.
Karthik dropped
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik was left out of the 15-member side after a string of below-par performances. However, another wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, who kept the selectors on their toes, failed to make the cut either.
Left-handed Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir also returned to the side after missing the last four games against Australia due to injury, but middle order bat S Badrinath from Tamil Nadu wasn't given a look-in. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik also kept his place after his six-wicket haul and match-winning innings in Mumbai.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was retained as skipper for the matches, while Yuvraj Singh remained the vice-captain. Dhoni, however, was not present at the press conference.
Announcing the team in Ahmedabad during the ongoing Challenger Series, Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said that former captain Dravid, who relinquished his position after the tour of England to concentrate on his batting, was given a rest after a disappointing home series against Australia.
Dravid wasn't included in the seventh and final ODI in Mumbai. Vengsarkar, however, said that Dravid was only given a rest for the first two One-Dayers and there was every chance for him to mark a return for the rest of the series. "He is a great player. I'm sure he will be back very soon," Vengsarkar added.
Karthik dropped
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik was left out of the 15-member side after a string of below-par performances. However, another wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, who kept the selectors on their toes, failed to make the cut either.
Left-handed Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir also returned to the side after missing the last four games against Australia due to injury, but middle order bat S Badrinath from Tamil Nadu wasn't given a look-in. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik also kept his place after his six-wicket haul and match-winning innings in Mumbai.




Comment