India prefer Jadeja to Harbhajan for S.Africa tests

Ravindra Jadeja was recalled to the Indian Test after a little more than a year when the Indian selectors announced sides for the first two Tests, last two One-Day Internationals and the tour match against South Africa on Monday (October 19). Ravindra Jadeja, who bas barely featured since India’s semifinal exit in the ICC World Cup 2015 has forced his way into the Test fold on the back of a few inspiring displays with bat and ball for Saurashtra in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

Off-spinner Ravichandra Ashwin, who suffered a side strain in the first ODI in Kanpur, has also been included. He played the only Test of that series and the first Test of the Sri Lanka tour in August – in which he only picked up one wicket in 25 overs in spin-friendly conditions – before sitting out the second and third Tests.

However, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been left out of the Test outfit.

South Africa will play the Board President’s XI in a tour match in Mumbai on 30th and 31st October ahead of the first Test which gets underway on 5th November in Mohali.

South Africa leads the ODI series 2-1 and also won a preceding three-game Twenty20 series 2-0.

Fast bowler Umesh Yadav has been replaced by left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind for the last two one-dayers. Today also we had a detailed discussion with the captain. “We are confident that the team management and the captain will give a good thought to it”.

India squad for last two ODIs: Sreenath Aravind, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Gurkeerat Singh, Harbhajan Singh.

Board President XI (3-day warm-up vs South Africa): Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Unmukt Chand, Karun Nair, Shreyar Iyer, Naman Ojha, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Nathu Singh, Karn Sharma Sheldon Jackson.

For two tests: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Lokesh Rahul, Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma.