Tendulkar returns, Kohli gets surprise call
Posted on Aug 07, 2008 at 13:20 | Updated Aug 07, 2008 at 19:47
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Tags: Ishant Sharma, india-sri lanka series, odi squad
Mumbai: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar returned to the Indian One- Day team along with Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan while Delhi batsman Virat Kohli was a surprise inclusion for an upcoming five-match series in Sri Lanka as well as a 15-man team for the Champions Trophy next month.
Mahendra Dhoni returned to take his place as ODI skipper after giving a miss to the ongoing Tests under Anil Kumble.
Tendulkar had missed a tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan because of a groin injury. Zaheer too was out due to an injury while Harbhajan was serving a ban after the ‘slapgate’ incident with S. Sreesanth during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Harbhajan’s return meant leg-spinner Piyush Chawla’s name had to be struck off. Uthappa too failed to make the grade after struggling in recent ODIs.
Ishant Sharma, who has given a fine account in recent Test matches, was rested for the series in Sri Lanka but included in the Champions Trophy. Munaf Patel and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel are in the team for the Sri Lanka series but not for the Champions Trophy.
India's under-19 World Cup winning captain Kohli, who impressed with his performances during the recently concluded Emerging Players Tournament in Australia, was picked over the likes of S Badrinath and Manoj Tiwary.
Senior batsmen Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid weren't considered for the ODIs after they failed to make it even to the Champions Trophy probables.
The selection committee convener and the Indian cricket board (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah told the media that Ishant had been rested for the ODI series, but failed to elaborate on whose insistence the decision was made.
Earlier, during the second Test, Indian coach Gary Kirsten had asked the two selectors (Sanjay Jagdale and Venkatpathi Raju) present in Sri Lanka to rest Ishant due to a packed schedule later this year.
"The selectors have decided to rest Ishant Sharma while S Sreesanth was not considered for selection as he has been asked to play domestic matches to get match fit," Shah told the media.
Indian ODI team for Sri Lanka: MS Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Munaf Patel, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan.
Champions Trophy Squad: MS Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan.
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Total Comments: 18
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Posted By rajah
sourav should be consider for upcoming series.............he is having more abilty play his shots well in critical situation
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Posted By samir
why drop yusuf pathan
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Posted By laxman
1. Munaf patel is a bad choice. Either Rajat Bhatia or Abhishek Nair should have taken his place.
2. Selectors have
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Posted By Desi
Not one player from Southern India!!! Guess who is running the show now?
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Posted By Jagan Santhanam
Where is S. Badrinath and M. Tiwari. Badri looks like someone who can play at this level and during every
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