Bangalore: Virender Sehwag earned a surprise recall to the Indian Test team for the Australian tour on Wednesday. Sehwag, who was not even in the 24 probables, got a berth in the 16-man squad in place of his Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir, who failed in both the innings of the third Test against Pakistan here. Gambhir reportedly was ruled out due to a sore shoulder.
Rookie Rajasthan pace bowler Pankaj Singh was also included in the squad while Munaf Patel missed out and has been advised to get more match practice to improve his fitness.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and selection committee convener, Niranjan Shah, who announced the team, said that the Indian team’s physiotherapist John Gloster has advised opener Gautam Gambhir three weeks rest for a sore shoulder, while Munaf Patel has been advised more match practice.
"Gloster has advised three weeks rest to Gambhir for a sore shoulder, which he sustained during the third Test against Pakistan here while Munaf has been advised more match practice before his selection for international matches. So, he will be seen in Ranji Trophy matches," Shah told reporters on Wednesday.
Refusing to furnish details of the selection committee meeting, Shah, walked out of the press meet after simply announcing 16-member team saying that the changes for the Tri-series, involving Sri Lanka as the third team, would be announced during the end of the Test series.
The squad: Anil Kumble (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Pankaj Singh.