Dravid surplus to India requirements

Opener Virender Sehwag has been recalled to the India one-day side at the expense of former skipper Rahul Dravid

Former captain Rahul Dravid has been omitted from the India squad for the first two matches of the one-day series against Australia.

The 36-year-old was called up to the one-day team for the ICC Champions Trophy after an absence of almost two years and, although he was the second highest scorer in India’s failed campaign in South Africa, he has been dropped to make way for the return of Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag, who missed the Champions Trophy due to a shoulder injury which had kept him out of the World Twenty20 in June, has made a successful comeback to competitive cricket in the Champions League Twenty20 for Delhi Daredevils.

Hard-hitting left-hander Yuvraj Singh, who was forced out of the Champions Trophy due to a finger injury sustained two days before India’s opening match against Pakistan, also returns but BCCI secretary N Srinivasan admits his fitness is still a concern.

“The selectors were advised that Yuvraj Singh would definitely be fit to play the second ODI (On October 28),” Srinivasan said.

“It is possible that he may be able to play the first match as well and a decision on the playing XI would be made subject to Yuvraj’s fitness.”

Fast bowler Zaheer Khan was not considered as he is still recuperating from a shoulder injury, while Abhishek Nayar has been dropped, leading to a call-up for the Chennai Super Kings’ Sudeep Tyagi. Munaf Patel returns in place of left-arm seamer RP Singh.

Virat Kohli, who was rushed out to take Yuvraj’s place for the Champions Trophy, retains his place in the side ahead of wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik.

Left-arm spinner all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja takes the place of Yusuf Pathan, who was dropped after a poor showing in the Champions Trophy.

The first match of the series against Australia will be held in Baroda on October 25.

India have also sacked bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh with immediate effect after their bowling and fielding came in for criticism during the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20 campaigns.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement: "The BCCI has decided to discontinue the services of bowling coach Mr Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Mr Robin Singh, with immediate effect."

India squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Harbhajan Singh, Sudeep Tyagi, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ashish Nehra.