Jadeja joins leg-spinner Amit Mishra as the third slow bowler in the side alongside off-spinner Ashwin, who is recovering from a side strain suffered during the first one-day international against the Proteas in Kanpur on October 11. The selectors, keen to have Ashwin fit for the Tests, have rested him for the last two one-dayers in Chennai and Mumbai even though South Africa lead the series 2-1
ISHANT PICKED DESPITE SUSPENSION
Fast bowler Ishant Sharma was named in the Test squad despite being ineligible for selection for the first match because of a suspension slapped on him by the ICC for bad behaviour during India's tour of Sri Lanka. Ishant was ruled out of the last two ODIs against South Africa, after injuring his hamstring during Delhi's Ranji Trophy match against Haryana, but is expected to be fit in time for the Tests
AFP
New Delhi
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returned to India's Test fold after more than a year's absence on Monday even as injured spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin was rested from the one-day squad.
Jadeja, 26, was included in the 16-man squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against world number one South Africa, in Mohali from November 5-9 and Bangalore from Nov 14-18. The left-arm spinner and useful lower order batsman, who played the last of his 12 Tests in England in August 2014, was back in favour after claiming 24 wickets and scoring 91 and 58 in two first-class matches earlier this month.
Jadeja joins leg-spinner Amit Mishra as the third slow bowler in the side alongside off-spinner Ashwin, who is recovering from a side strain suffered during the first one-day international against the Proteas in Kanpur on October 11. The selectors, keen to have Ashwin fit for the Tests, have rested him for the last two one-dayers in Chennai and Mumbai even though South Africa lead the series 2-1.
The Test squad also includes fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who will miss the first match due to a one-Test suspension for bad behaviour during the preceding tour of Sri Lanka. Openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, who were injured in Sri Lanka, return to the Test side along with wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav has been replaced by left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind for the last two one-dayers. Yadav will, however, be back for the Tests.
Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara will lead a Board President's team side for a two-day match against the tourists in Mumbai on October 30 and 31.
INDIA SQUADS
For Tests in Mohali (November 5-9) and Bangalore (November 14-18): Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Lokesh Rahul, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma.
Squad for fourth and fifth one-dayers in Chennai (October 22) and Mumbai (October 25): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sreenath Aravind, Stuart Binny, Ambati Rayudu, Gurkeerat Mann.
Board President's squad for two-day match against the tourists in Mumbai (Oct 30 and 31): Cheteshwar Pujara (capt), Lokesh Rahul, Unmukt Chand, Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Naman Ojha, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Nathu Singh, Karn Sharma, Sheldon Jackson.
