Mumbai, Jul 4: Sachin Tendulkar has opted out of the Sri Lanka tour while Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan returned to the Indian ODI squad. Ravindra Jadeja has been dropped. The selectors, on Wednesday, retained Virat Kohli as vice captain while MS Dhoni remains the captain. Kohli was first chosen as Dhoni's deputy for the Asia Cup in March. Sehwag had been rested for Asia Cup. Zaheer too had been rested for the same tournament.
India tour of Sri Lanka 2012 will consist of five One Day Internationals and one Twenty20 International. The first ODI will be held in Hambantota on July 21.
ThatsCricket had reported on Tuesday that Tendulkar would opt out of this tour. There was also no place for Pathan brothers, Irfan and Yusuf in the 15-man squad. Both were part of India's Asia Cup squad in March.
Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha too has made a comeback to the team. Ojha last played an ODI in August 2010 in Sri Lanka. Veteran offspinner Harbhajan Singh continues to be ignored by the selectors. He has now signed up for Essex county and will be playing in England soon.
Ajinkya Rahane, who had a magnificent IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals, is also back in the national squad. Delhi paceman Umesh Yadav has also returned.
"We have selected the best available side," said selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth.
Indian players had enjoyed a much deserved break after the Indian Premier League. The fifth edition of the IPL had ended on May 27 and since then there was no international cricket for the Indian team.
The last international assignment which India were involved was Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March. However, they played a one off Twenty20 International against South Africa on March 30 in Johannesburg. During the Asia Cup, Tendulkar reached a world record 100 international hundreds against Bangladesh, on March 16.
India squad for Sri Lanka ODI series and one Twenty20: MS Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Ashok Dinda, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav.
India Vs Sri Lanka ODI Fixtures and lone Twenty20
Jul 21: 1st ODI, Sri Lanka Vs India Hambantota Cricket Stadium
Jul 24: 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka Vs India Hambantota Cricket Stadium
Jul 28: 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka Vs India R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Jul 31: 4th ODI, Sri Lanka Vs India R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Aug 4: 5th ODI, Sri Lanka Vs India Pallekele Cricket Stadium
Aug 7: Only Twenty20, Sri Lanka Vs India Pallekele Cricket Stadium
ThatsCricket