New Delhi: India on Sunday recalled pacers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav to their 16-member squad for the first three one-day internationals against Australia for their forthcoming five-match limited over series at home.
Spinner R. Ashwin and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja continued to be rested by the selectors as per the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s rotation policy for the series beginning on September 17 and stretching till October 13, comprising five one-dayers and three T20s.
Ashwin is presently playing county cricket in England for Worcestershire while left-armer Jadeja has been rested since the Test series in Sri Lanka last month.
Yadav and Shami, who were also rested in India’s recent 5-0 ODI series win in Sri Lanka, got a look-in at Shardul Thakur’s expense who was the only change in the Virat Kohli-led team.
India have named a 16-member squad instead of 15 for the first three games.
Young spinners Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal were retained after their impressive performances on the Sri Lanka tour, where India swept to an emphatic 9-0 victory in all three formats. Selection committee chairman M.S.K. Prasad said Chahal and Patel deserved extended runs due to their impressive showings against Sri Lanka. They will lead the team’s spin attack along with Kuldeep Yadav.
Hardik Pandya retained the all-rounder’s spot and will lend fast-bowling support to Yadav, Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. The batting department has seven familiar names.
“The team for the three ODIs against Australia has been selected in line with the board’s rotation policy and accordingly, R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested,” Prasad said on Sunday.
“The team's performance on the Sri Lanka tour was outstanding and players like Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, who performed very well are being given an extended run. This will in turn supplement our approach to build a strong reserve strength, as we prepare for forthcoming tours,” the former India stumper added.
The squad
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice- captain), Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, M.S. Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
