It was a bitter-sweet day for Mumbai as the national senior selection committee named a 15-member squad for the three-match Test series against the visiting New Zealand team
Shardul Thakur
It was a bitter-sweet day for Mumbai as the national senior selection committee named a 15-member squad for the three-match Test series against the visiting New Zealand team yesterday.
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Despite indifferent form, Rohit Sharma was retained in the squad while pacer Shardul Thakur was dropped without getting an opportunity on the recent West Indies tour. Rohit featured in the last two Tests of the four-match series. In the third, at Gros Islet, he contributed nine and 41.
Rohit Sharma
Asked whether skipper Virat Kohli played a crucial role in Rohit being retained, chief selector Sandeep Patil said, "Rohit has immense talent but he hasn't got a longer run in Test cricket — picked for one Test match, then rested for the entire season and then picked again. Whoever it is will be given a fair amount of chances."
Also Read: Selectors are answerable to BCCI, says Sandeep Patil
'Happy with the bench'
The outgoing chief selector was happy with the bench strength built over the last couple of years. Karnataka batsman KL Rahul has been impressive, scoring a century in Tests as well as in T20 cricket (against West Indies).
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli arrives for the selection committee meeting at a city hotel in Mumbai yesterday. Pic/Sameer Markande
"We are very happy with the way Rahul has established himself in the senior side. We not only discussed Gautam Gambhir, but other seniors too. I think it is a healthy sign when a new guy comes in and starts performing," said Patil, adding, "This is what we want, but that doesn't mean we forget the senior players."
Besides Thakur, all-rounder Stuart Binny was also dropped from the squad. Ajinkya Rahane was named as Kohli's deputy. "We have stuck to the combination which has done very well and we believe this is the best possible combination," said Patil.
The squad
Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice captain), M Vijay, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, W Saha (Wk), R Jadeja, M Shami, Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav.
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