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Selection Committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth on Thursday lauded the youngsters, particularly the spin duo of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, for their good show in the first Test against the West Indies, and said retaining them in an unchanged squad is a reward for their performance.
The selectors named an unchanged squad for the second Test in Kolkata starting November 14, picking Ashwin and Ojha ahead of senior tweaker Harbhajan Singh, who has been dropped on account of poor form and asked to play domestic cricket.
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"The team has done very well by winning against the West Indies in the first Test. The selectors, coach and the captain are all very happy," Srikkanth said after the selection committee meeting in New Delhi.
India fielded an inexperienced bowling attack in the first Test, and Srikkanth said the youngsters performed well to justify their selection.
"I am happy about (off-spinner) Ravichandran Ashwin who took three wickets in first innings and six in the second. (left-arm spinner) Pragyan Ojha did well and pacer Umesh Yadav bowled well on a flat pitch typical of what you call Indian conditions," he said.
"So, overall it was a superb performance by the team and we have named an unchanged squad considering the good show," said the former Indian captain.
Ashwin and Umesh Yadav made their debut in the first Test here, which India won by five wickets. In fact, Ashwin became only the third cricketer ever to be named Man of the Match on his debut.
Srikkanth also praised the team management for executing the plans well in the Test.
"The planning was superb and we executed the plans on the field. All credit to the team management," he said.
The second Test starts from November 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.