Press Trust of India
New Delhi, Oct 19: All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returned Monday to India’s Test squad after a gap of 14 months as selectors desisted from making too many changes to the 16-member team for the first two matches against South Africa starting November 5.
Barring Jadeja’s inclusion, there were no other changes in the Test squad announced by BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur after a meeting of the selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil here.
The selectors also made just one change in the ODI squad for the remaining two matches against Proteas, bringing in paceman Sreenath Arvind for fellow seamer Umesh Yadav.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhi-maan Saha, who missed the last Test against Sri Lanka because of injury has also been brought back to the squad, which will be captained by Virat Kohli.
Patil said the selectors are disappointed at the way, the team has performed in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. The hosts are currently down 1-2.
“We are concerned (performance). Two selectors who were travelling with the team had a word with the team management and captain. Every time the side loses we feel bad,” Patil said.
“But we still back the team which we have chosen. We still back the ideas and the management and the support staff. We want them to do well. The areas that we wanted to be looked into have been discussed and I am sure that the team will look into it,” he added.
Patil also asserted that the selectors and the captain have no differences on the composition of the team. “I have said this earlier and it is to give the captain the team that not only he wants but the side which selectors feel that will do well. We (captain and selectors) are on the same page regarding this,” Patil told mediapersons.
The Test team has a balanced look in the batting department with Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay being the openers. KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane will be the middle-order mainstays though Rahul can also open the innings if required.
Although Ishant Sharma has been named in the squad, he will not be eligible to play the first Test having been banned by the ICC for his aggressive behaviour during the Sri Lanka series.
“Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma were always on the discussion list. We just don’t discuss 15 players in the meeting. We discuss each and every player who represents BCCI. So we don’t only consider 20 or 25 players. We do consider domestic performances and at the same time that particular player will fit in the slot or not is important,” Patil stated when asked about Jadeja’s inclusion.