Gambhir to lead Board President's XI against Australia

A fit-again Gautam Gambhir will lead a 14-member Indian Board President's XI against the touring Australian team in a three-day practice match from September 25 in Chandigarh.

The BCCI's selection panel met in Chennai at the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association headquarters at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday and selected the team for the match which precedes the two-match Test series starting October 2 in Mohali, Board Secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

Gambhir, who was nursing a knee injury, is the only senior player in the team which comprises mostly of youngsters.

The batting line-up features promising names such as Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha along with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

The pace attack would be spearheaded by S Sreesanth with R Ashwin and Abhimanyu Mithun for company. The slower bowling department would be led by Piyush Chawla.

Australia will also play a three-match ODI series after the Tests, starting October 19 in Kochi.

The Board President's XI squad: Gautam Gambhir (Captain), Shikar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Abhimanyu Mithun, S Sreesanth, Jaydev Unadkat, Umesh Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Ravindra Jadeja.