Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, pacers who can bowl at 150 kph, find their
place in the Indian Test team. The First Test against the West Indies is on
Nov 6.
This is the squad for the first Test
M S Dhoni (capt & wk), Gautam Gambhir, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Varun
Aaron, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin
Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma
Kohli finds his way into the Test side ahead of Raina. Bajji has been
dropped for poor performance and the spin department will be handled by
Ojha, Ashwin and Rahul Sharma. Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir and Yuvraj have
recovered from their injuries and will play for India.
" We think from the perspective of the future ' said Sreekanth, the Chairman
of Selectors. " We are building a team for the future and all are 100 per
cent fit". Ashwin is yet to make his debut in Tests and Rahul Sharma's
inclusion is surprising. Ojha took 24 wickets in County Cricket for Surrey
and comes back to the squad.
Rotate fast bowlers to avoid injury: Sehwag
"It's important that the team management ensures that they don't play too
many matches. Fast bowlers are prone to injuries and when they get injured
their pace goes," said the dashing opener. "Besides, when you are injured,
your comeback becomes very difficult. A cricketer's passion is to play for
the country. If somebody says he's tired, he can talk to the team
management. Dhoni was not given rest on his request, because there were too
many injuries in the team." He admitted he had played in England without
recovering from injuries and said he is always annoyed with himself when he
gets injured. I knew I was needed. I tried my best but I realised I hurried
my comeback in England. It was a difficult time in England for the whole
team... so many injuries." added the formidable opening batsman.
He said the Country vs Club debate is futile and said no international
player has renounced Test cricket to play in the IPL.
"Tell me one cricketer who has said that. It's a perception that the media
and ex-cricketers have. Every youngster dreams of playing Tests. There is
not a single Indian or for that matter international cricketer who has taken
retirement from Tests and ODIs to play IPL," he said.
"I played the World Cup with injuries, Sachin played when he had a fractured
toe or other injuries. People are not aware of this," he said.
He said Sachin is irreplaceable. " "Nobody will ever play for as long as
Sachin has however good he may be. There can never be another Sachin," he
said.
He said he is impressed by Rahane, Kohli, Raina and Rohit Sharma and that
India has a formidable future.
"When the seniors retire, I have full faith in these talented youngsters
taking their place. There may be a problem for a year or two, but Indian
cricket is in safe hands."
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