Mumbai: Suresh Raina has earned a call-up to the India Test side after selectors included the stylish left-handed batsman in a 16-man squad yesterday for next month's four-match series in the West Indies.
After impressing in the one-day team, the uncapped 19-year-old was promoted to the Test squad after Sachin Tendulkar ruled himself out of the series on Tuesday, the premier batsman failing to recover completely from a shoulder surgery.
Off-spinner Ramesh Powar also earned a place in the squad based on his impressive one-day performances, the uncapped 28-year-old named as a third slow bowler along with Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
"Powar has been bowling very well, he is the find of the season," chairman of selectors Kiran More told reporters yesterday.
"The pitches in the West Indies have been re-laid for the World Cup," he added, implying that they have slowed down and could aid spin.
"Moreover, he provides us options," More said of Powar, who is also a hard-hitting lower-order batsman.
Opting for youth over experience, fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh was given the nod ahead of the tried and tested all round skills of Ajit Agarkar.
"He has tremendous potential, we want to groom him," More said of the 21-year-old from Punjab with just two one-day international appearances to his name.
"But we have three more fast bowlers in the squad. Munaf [Patel], [Irfan] Pathan and [Shanthakumaran] Sreesanth are bowling well," More said.
The selectors have opted for just two specialist openers in Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer instead of three as is the norm for long overseas tours.
Captain Rahul Dravid opened the innings with Sehwag in Pakistan earlier this year.
"[Mahendra] Dhoni is also an opening option," More said of the burly wicketkeeper-batsman.
Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthick made a comeback into the squad as the second gloveman after Dhoni.
India clash with the Caribbean, aiming to win their first major Test series outside the sub-continent in 20 years.
The first Test is in Antigua from June 2-6, followed by Tests in St Lucia (June 10-14), St Kitts (June 22-26) and Jamaica (June 30 to July 4).
THE SQUAD: Rahul Dravid (capt.), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, K. Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Vikram Rajvir Singh, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar.
