Pujara and Gambhir were not considered along with Yuvraj
Sanju Samson and Karn Sharma have been picked up for one day international series against England
Mumbai: Kerala wicketkeeper batsman Sanju Samson and Railways leg spinner Karn Sharma have earned maiden India call-ups after the duo were selected in the Indian team for the five ODIs and a solitary Twenty20 International against England. Mumbai paceman Dhawal Kulkarni has also been included in the 17-member squad. Cheteshwar Pujara and Gautam Gambhir who are part of the ongoing five-match Test series were omitted along with Yuvraj Singh as selectors gave first indication of their 2015 World Cup plans.
In-form Karnataka opener Robin Uthappa also missed the flight to England for the series starting August 25 and concluding on September 7.
Selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil discussed with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher through video conference before finalising the squad have rewarded fringe players. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are set to keep their opening slots with vice-captain Virat Kohli to form the crux of the batting.Samson has been consistent with Rajasthan Royals and was highest run-getter for India A scoring 244 runs at an average of 81.33 in seven matches.
Samson’s promise at the young age of 19, seems to have gone in his favour at the expense of in-form wicketkeeper batsman Naman Ojha who was recently included in the Test squad for his outstanding performances in Australia.The 26-year-old Karn who was also in Australia with India A team has been a consistent performer in the IPL and domestic matches and got the nod ahead of the young spin duo of Akshar Patel and Parvez Rasool.
Karn’s Sunrisers’ teammate, Amit Mishra also a leg-spinner was ruled out for selection due to back injury. Pacer Ishant Sharma is also recuperating from an injury.
Kulkarni emerged the highest wicket-taker (14 scalps) for India A in the just concluded quadrangular A-Team ODI tournament in Australia which the Indian team won. Kulkarni was picked in the ODI squad for the home series against West Indies last year but was then ruled out with injury.
Ambati Rayudu and all-rounder Stuart Binny who were part of the ODI squad to Bangladesh for three ODIs that comprised mostly the domestic and IPL performers have retained their place along with relatively experienced players Suresh Raina and Ajinkya Rahane. Pujara and Uthappa failed to impress selectors who also ignored inform Maharashtra batsman Kedar Jadhav and Bengal’s mainstay Manoj Tiwary.
Umesh Yadav, one of the stars of the first-class matches on the A tour, retained his place along with Mohit Sharma. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Kulkarni are the other pacers in the squad.“Considering the World Cup, the emphasis was laid on including the young players, that is why players such as Sanju Samson, Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma and Stuart Binny are there in the team,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel told media here.
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