The selection committee of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, starting from September 22 in Kanpur.

Under-performer Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has been picked up by the selection committee and the selection of Gautam Gambhi, despite scoring four back-to-back half centuries in the ongoine Duleep Trophy, has been ignored.

Chief selector Sandeep Patil, while speaking with reporters said, “We have stuck to the combination which has done very well. We were of the opinion that this was the best possible combination for New Zealand.”

On Rohit Sharma’s selection, Sandeep Patil said that he was not given enough chances to play in Test Cricket and added, “Rohit is a fabulous player, with immense talent. He hasn’t got a long run in Test cricket as he has been picked for one Test and then dropped. The selection committee, along with captain (Virat Kohli) and coach (Anil Kumble) said they will give ample opportunities to anyone who is picked.”

He said, “We have faith in all 15 but we are not focusing only on 15. There are others too as bench strength.”

The chief selector was pleased with K L Rahul’s recent performance and said, “We are happy with the way KL Rahul has fitted into the seniors team.”

“It’s not that we didn’t discuss other names, including Gautam Gambhir and other seniors, but we stuck to the combination which did well abroad. We were all of the opinion that the best team should play,” said Sandeep Patil on ignoring Gautam Gambhir.

Indian Test Squad:
Virat Kohli (Capt), K L Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, M Vijay, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav

By Prajakt K.