Harbhajan Singh back in Test team

‘Picked in view of many left-handers in Bangladesh squad’

May 21, 2015 12:34 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:04 pm IST - MUMBAI:

Harbhajan Singh’s return to the Test squad for India’s tour of Bangladesh for the Test and ODI series next month and confirmation of Virat Kohli as captain of a full-strength Test squad were the highpoints of a selection committee meeting, conveyed by new BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur here on Tuesday. M.S. Dhoni will continue to lead the ODI squad.

R. Ashwin’s presence in the squad for the Tests will mean two off-spinners in the team, besides leg-spinner Karn Sharma. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who was in the squad to Australia prior to the World Cup, has been dropped. He, however, is among the slow bowlers for the ODIs, along with Ashwin and left-arm spinner Axar Patel.

India will be fielding full strength squads for the Bangladesh series after ensuring the availability of all players in the running for places.

Sandeep Patil, chairman of the senior selection committee, explained the reasoning behind the decisions.

“No player approached either the BCCI or me asking for a rest. Everybody, except Mohammed Shami (recovering from injury) will be available for four weeks,” said Patil, in his first media briefing after taking over in 2012.

Harbhajan’s last Test appearance came in 2013 during the home series against Australia. The off-spinner played three first-class matches for Punjab, and has been impressive for Mumbai Indians in the T20 format.

Asked to explain the reason for the off-spiner’s inclusion, Patil said: “Harbhajan has been picked considering the number of left-handers in the Bangladesh team. The selection committee felt that a second off-spinner was needed. We had a long discussion with captain Virat Kohli on this issue and then the decision was taken.”

With 101 Test appearances and 413 wickets, the off-spinner is the seniormost player in the Test squad under Kohli.

Patil was also asked the reason for not considering Harbhajan for the one-dayers; the off-spinner has experience of 229 ODIs and was in the squad for the 2011 tour of the West Indies.

Considering India’s performance in the World Cup, the selectors felt it was not the right time for chopping, changing and disturbing the combination. If required, if fitness becomes an issue, the selectors would consider it, said Patil.

Replying to a question whether picking the veteran off-spinner was a step backwards, Patil reasoned: “The selection committee represents each and every cricketer of India. We don’t have emotional attachments and look for performances, fitness and the combination, whether a particular player, a bowler or batsman fits in that combination.

“The last two years we have made some mistakes, maybe we will make some more. We have to learn from the mistakes. Indian cricket is going through a transition period, which we all know. We are just trying to settle down. Request all you friends to have more patience.”

The squads:

Test: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R. Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma.

ODI: M.S. Dhoni (captain), Rohit, Rahane, Kohli, Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar, Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Stuart Binny and Dhawal Kulkarni.

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