Sourav Ganguly [Images] has been included in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia [Images].

The former India captain, left out of the Rest of India squad for last week's Irani Trophy match, retained his place in the 15-man squad, announced by the new selection committee, under the chairmanship of Krishnamachari Srikanth, on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu's Subramaniam Badrinath was also included, in place of Rohit Sharma, who was dropped without a single opportunity in the three-Test series in Sri Lanka [Images] last month.

There was a surprise call up for Haryana leg spinner Amit Mishra, who edged out left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Mishra last played international cricket nearly five years back, when he featured in a triangular against Bangladesh and South Africa [Images] in Dhaka in April 2003.

Munaf Patel [Images] also kept his place in the Test squad after an impressive showing for Rest of India in the Irani Trophy tie against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi [Images]. Rudra Pratap Singh is the fourth seamer in the squad along with Zaheer Khan [Images] and Ishant Sharma.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] is back in the squad after opting out of the Test series in Sri Lanka. He is the lone wicketkeeper in the team as his replacements, Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik [Images], were not retained.

India play Australia in a four-Test series, starting in Bangalore on October 9. The second Test will be played in Mohali from October 17-21.

Squad for first two Tests:

Anil Kumble [Images] (captain), Sachin Tendulkar [Images], Rahul Dravid [Images], VVS Laxman, M S Dhoni (w/k), Virender Sehwag [Images], Gautam Gambhir [Images], Harbhajan Singh [Images], Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Sourav Ganguly, Subramaniam Badrinath, Munaf Patel, R P Singh.