New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday named allrounder Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Mohammed Shami for the five-match ODI series against Australia while also calling up veterans Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra for the three-match T20 series to be held next month.
The Sandeep Patil-led selection committee, which met in New Delhi, also gave maiden call-ups to Punjab’s young left-arm seamer Brainder Sran and Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya for their consistent performance in domestic circuit.
While Sran was named in the ODI squad, Pandya was called into the T20 team.
Sran has played just one IPL game for Rajasthan Royals to go with his 34 wickets from 11 first-class games and 14 wickets in six matches in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Young pacer Gurkeerat Singh Mann has also been retained in the ODI squad. Mann was in the India squad for the ODI and T20I series at home against South Africa, but is yet to make his international debut.
The selectors also announced that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will continue to lead the Indian ODI and T20 teams till the World T20 Championship which is to be held in India in March-April next year.
Shami, who has recovered from his knee injury, has been named in both the ODI and T20 squads alongside Jadeja.
Meanwhile, experienced batsman Suresh Raina was dropped from the ODI squad but has been retained for the T20Is.
Rishi Dhawan and Manish Pandey were also included in the ODI squad announced by BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur.
There were a number of players like Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh, who were omitted from the ODI squad.
Off-spinner Harbhajan however kept his place in the T20 squad.
The squad has expectedly been packed with seamers, keeping in mind the conditions in Australia where India will play five ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals from January 12 to 31.
The selectors preferred to give another opportunity to Yuvraj and Nehra, both of who had represented with distinction in the past.
“Keeping in mind World T20 lot of players this was chance to pick for World T20 and use it as a platform. Those not selected were all discussed. We have extended the pool,” Chairman of the selection committee Sandip Patil told reporters after the meeting.
Speaking about Yuvraj and Nehra’s comeback, Patil said: “Yuvi is special and captain is happy to have him back. We can’t guarantee him place but chance to perform will be given. Nehra is a consistent performer in T20 format. He will be useful in the team. We will need experienced players in the T20 WC. Australia tour perfect chance to give them a shot.”
Squads
ODI squad: MS Dhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Singh Mann, Rishi Dhawan, Barinder Singh Sran.
T20I squad: MS Dhoni (c), Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Harbhajan SinghShikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra.
