Sachin rested, Zaheer and Sehwag return

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Veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar opted to skip the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka. The rest of the squad selected at Mumbai on Wednesday saw seniors, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan return to the one-day squad.

Tendulkar after missing ODIs for nearly a year after the World Cup triumph was a part of the team that played in Australia and the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Ravindra Jadeja missed out while Ajinkya Rahane was rewarded for his good show in the IPL.

There were no surprises in the batting department. Manoj Tiwary benefited from Tendulkar’s unavailability to take the last batting slot.

“It is a long season ahead and I think we will come back to winning ways. Sachin wants to extend his career, he is spacing it out very well, and will be starting from the home series against New Zealand. We have selected the best available team based on the performance,” said BCCI chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth.

This is the most experienced team India has fielded in the shorter format in the recent past. Both Sehwag (back spasm) and Zaheer (rested) returned to the squad after being rested for the Asia Cup.

Virat Kohli was retained as vice-captain for the tour. “The idea is continuity. Virat made brilliant hundreds after becoming vice-captain that proved that his game is not affected when he is handed responsibility,” explained Srikkanth.

Seamers R. Vinay Kumar and Ashok Dinda continued to enjoy the confidence of the selectors. Having regained full fitness Umesh Yadav completed the seam quartet. Off-spinner R. Ashwin made the cut as the first choice spinner while Pragyan Ojha was recalled to replace out of form all-rounder Jadeja. Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, in spite of a poor show in the IPL made the cut.

“We want to start the season with a bang. I am confident that the team would put behind its dismal show in England, Australia and Bangladesh and return to winning ways during the upcoming tour,” added Srikkanth.

Squad

MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virat Kohli (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, R Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane

Out: Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar
IN: Ajinkya Rahane, Pragyan Ojha, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav.