Kolkata: Speedsters Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami have been selected in the Indian squad for the first three ODI’s against Australia, the first of which is going to get underway from the 17th of September, in Chennai.
Barring paceman Shardul Thakur, the rest of the members from the limited overs’ squad that recently put up a brilliant show in Sri Lanka have been retained for the Australia series, that kicks off India’s home season.
Also India’s frontline spinners-Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for the series. Ashwin, who has been participating in Division 2 of the County Championship had signed for Worcestershire for a four-match contract out of which two are left. The off-spinner’s next assignment is against Leicestershire on the 12th-15th September after which he would play against Durham from the 25th-28th of the same month.
Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, courtesy his brilliant performance against Sri Lanka has been retained for the Australia series.
Middle order batsman Kedar Jadhav who did not have a good time with the bat in Sri Lanka has too been selected in the team. He could score only 64 runs in the series out which 63 came in one match and he probably made the cut due to his part-time bowling which has come handy in breaking many crucial partnerships.
The Times of India quoted a source as saying, “Kedar has done consistently well for us in the past. He adds value by taking wickets with his part-time spin bowling. We need to back him.”
MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors said, “The team for the three ODIs against Australia has been selected in line with the rotation policy of the Board and accordingly R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested.”
He also added, “The team’s performance during the Sri Lanka tour was outstanding and players like Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, who performed very well are being given an extended run and this will in turn supplement our approach, to build a strong reserve strength, as we prepare for forthcoming tours.”
Squad: Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.