INDIAN MIDDLE order batsman Yuvraj Singh has been dropped from Indian test team to play against Australia starting next month.
Ironically, out of form Yuvraj Singh has been named captain of the 'Rest of India' team which will take on Ranji champions Mumbai, for the Irani Cup from October 1.
He was struggling with his batting performance since last year, although he had been given various opportunities but he was not able to live up to the expectations of the selectors.
He made his test debut in the year 2003 and in no time turned out to be the talk of the town, the new promising test player of India. After a few years post his debut, his position in the team is being questioned.
Averaging 48.14, 39 and 28.5 for the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010 seasons respectively, he had given his critics a license to kill.
Till now he has played 34 test matches and scored 1639 runs. He was able to edge his batting average to 35.63 only, scoring three centuries and nine half-centuries with the highest score of 163.
Performance and fitness is the criteria for selection given by Krish Srikkanth, the chairman of selection committee.
He mentioned, “We don't have to give any particular reason (for dropping Yuvraj). I think, performance and fitness... everything is taken into account. That itself answers the question." This was the reason given by Srikkanth after being questioned by the media behind dropping Yuvraj out from the squad.
Cheteshwar Pujara is the new face added to the 15 member Indian squad for the two-test series against kangaroos, starting October 1st in Mohali.
Srikkanth also mentioned that Pujara's fine performance in the domestic circuit made it possible for him to get through the national squad.
"Pujara has done very well in the domestic circuit in the last couple of seasons. He is a good player and also did well in the 'A' series. With the sheer weightage of his performance he has muscled his way into the team. You will have to give credit to his domestic performance," he said.
"We have given weightage to performance in domestic A series and this it how overall performance of every player has been taken into account. We have consulted (coach) Gary Kirsten and Dhoni and ultimately, this was the consensus," the chairman of selection committee added.
With his impressive performance with bat in Sri Lanka, Suresh Raina has been paid a huge revenue, keeping his spot fixed in 15 member team.
Paceman Zaheer Khan, who was not picked for the Sri Lanka tour in July due to a shoulder injury, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed the third test in Sri Lanka due to fitness issues, and S Sreesanth have returned to the squad.
Gautam Gambhir who suffered knee injury after first test in Sri Lanka has also returned to the squad. He will be joined by his opener partner Virender Sehwag along with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
Team
Indian team for Test series: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara.
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