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Sran, Rishi Dhawan make cut in T20 squad, Jadeja, Shami also return for ODIs starting Jan 12
India discards Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra were the a surprise inclusions for India’s Twenty20 squad after the selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) met in New Delhi, on Saturday, to pick the Indian team for the upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia, starting January 12.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and medium-pacer Mohammed Shami also return to the team for the One-Day series.
Among the new faces in the ODI squad are 23-year-old Punjab medium-pacer Brainder Sran, Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Himachal Pradesh all-rounder Rishi Dhawan.
Middle-order batsman, Suresh Raina did not find a place in the ODI squad, while batsman Ambati Rayudu, all-rounder Stuart Binny and leg-spinner Amit Mishra were dropped from both squads.
The ODI squad featured left-arm paceman Sran, batsman Mann and all-rounder Rishi Dhawan, all of whom are yet to play for India while uncapped all-rounder Hardik Pandya was included in the T20 squad.
The squads will be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The selectors did not make major changes with the World T20 round the corner.
"Keeping in mind World T20 lot of players this was chance to pick for World T20 and use it as a platform. Those not selected were all discussed. We have extended the pool," chairman of the selection committee Sandip Patil said after the meeting.
Talking about the comebacks of Yuvraj and Nehra, Patil said: “Yuvraj has been special and captain is happy to have him back. Nehra is a consistent performer in T20 format. He will be useful in the team.”
“This Aus tour will give selectors a chance to take a look at other players. We will need experienced players in the T20 World Cup. Australia tour perfect chance to give them a shot,” the selection committee chief added.
India's short three-week tour of Australia will have five ODIs and three T20 Internationals starting on January 12 and ending on January 31.
During the tour, India will play matches at all major venues like MCG, SCG, WACA, Adelaide Oval and Gabba in Brisbane.
ODI Team: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajikya Rahane, Manish, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ishant, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat Mann, Rishi Dhawan, Brainder Sran
T20 Team: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Harbhajan Singh, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvaneswar Kumar, Ashish Nehra
Schedule
ODI series:
January 12 - India vs Australia, WACA Ground, Perth
January 15 - India vs Australia, Gabba, Brisbane
January 17 - India vs Australia, Melbourne Cricket Ground
January 20 - India vs Australia, Manuka Oval, Canberra
January 23 - India vs Australia, Sydney Cricket Ground
T20 Internationals:
January 26 - India vs Australia, Adelaide Oval
January 29 - India vs Australia, Melbourne Cricket Ground
January 31 - India vs Australia, Sydney Cricket Ground
Image: Yuvraj Singh
Photograph: Getty Images