MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh were not considered due to injury concerns. The first batch of the Indian contingent for the Test series against South Africa will leave on December 6.
The first batch of the Indian contingent for the Test series against South Africa will leave on December 6. But skipper MS Dhoni, who has been rested for the first two ODIs against New Zealand, is unlikely to be one of the early birds. Dhoni may leave with the second batch — which is scheduled to fly after the ODI series ends — on December 12.
The exact list of the players in the two batches is not known, but it is understood that vice-captain Virender Sehwag, too, will be part of the first batch. The other players could be the Test specialists — Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteshwar Pujara, Zaheer Khan and Sachin Tendulkar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the list.
What is, however, emerging is that Gary Kirsten may be part of the first batch. The coach wanted the team to fly early and his request seems to have been accepted. This effectively means that the ODI team will miss the services of the coach for the last few matches.
The last ODI is on December 10 and the first Test against South Africa starts in Centurion on December 16.
Meanwhile, the Test (for the South Africa series) and ODI (for New Zealand series) squads have a few surprises. The selectors, who had a long meeting with skipper Dhoni in Nagpur, acceded to his demand for rest, but included Suresh Raina, whose case the India skipper had pleaded for. Gautam Gambhir has been made skipper for the first two ODIs, but it is not clear if Dhoni will be brought back to lead the squad for the last three ODIs.
Kris Srikkanth & Co have also rested Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan besides Sachin Tendulkar. The BCCI said these players were not “considered due to injury concerns which require attention and rehabilitation”. Wriddhiman Saha has made a surprise return to the national squad. The Bengal wicketkeeper has also found berth in the South Africa-bound tour party which also includes Vidarbha pacer Umesh Yadav. The 17-member Test squad also comprises Saurashtra left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat.
Squads:
For first two ODIs vs NZ: G Gambhir (C), M Vijay, V Kohli, Y Singh, S Raina, S Tiwary, W Saha (Wk), R Ashwin, P Kumar, V Kumar, M Patel, Y Pathan S Sreesanth, R Jadeja
For SA Tests: MS Dhoni (C), V Sehwag (VC), G Gambhir, R Dravid,
S Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Raina, H Singh, Z Khan, I Sharma, S Sreesanth, M Vijay, C Pujara, W Saha, J Unadkat, U Yadav, P Ojha
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}