Debasis Sen, Pallekele: Ace middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh was not included for the forthcoming 5 match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The selection committee headed by MSK Prasad took the tough call to drop the left hander from the ODI squad. Also ignored for the ODI team was another left hander Suresh Raina. Both the seniors were expected to find a place in the squad but what went against them was perhaps their age.
The team picked by the selectors is a pretty young side barring the exception of MS Dhoni. The selectors MSK Prasad along with Sharandeep Singh sat down with Virat Kohli at the Earl’s Regency Hotel, the team where the Indian team is staying here in Pallekele. The meeting was convened by the Board secretary Amitabh Chaudhary. Debang Gandhi, was taken on conference call.
As was expected Virat Kohli will continue to lead the side. KL Rahul, who was not in the Champions Trophy squad was included as the third opener along with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. The middle order looks settled with Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav. Manish Pandey, who was not in the Champions Trophy squad, was included in place of Yuvraj Singh.
As was reported by xtratime.in all the main bowlers were rested inclusing Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. The spinners included the names of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and leg spinner Yuzuvendra Chahal.
Hardik Pandya, who scored his maiden test ton will be the lone all-rounder in the side. The seamers include Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur.
The senior team will feature in five-match One Day International series and only Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka.
The team is as follows: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (vice captain), KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur.