Ganguly's hopes diminish

Batsmen Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly have been dropped from the Rest of India squad © Getty Images

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Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly's chances of being picked for the Test series against Australia this month look slim after he was dropped from a Rest of India squad by national selectors.

Ganguly and vice-captain of the one-day team Yuvraj Singh were dropped for the Irani Trophy match, the traditional season opener between the Ranji Trophy champions and a Rest of India team.

Paceman Sreesanth, who missed the Asia Cup and the series in Sri Lanka because of injury, was also absent from the squad for the five-day match which starts on September 24.

The Irani Trophy will serve as the basis for selection for India's series against Australia.

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah previously indicated that all the probables for the Test series against Australia would feature in the game.

However, the term of the present set of selectors ends on September 27 and Ganguly could yet make the team for the series should the new set of selectors favour him.