India discard Yuvraj

8 July 2008

Yuvraj Singh has struggled for runs © Getty Images

Batsman Yuvraj Singh has been dropped from the Test team by India selectors for the series against Sri Lanka.

The left-hander has been in poor form with the bat but selectors said they had decided to rest him for the series, from which skipper and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will also be absent, having cited fatigue.

Pragyan Ojha and Rohit Sharma were given maiden call-ups and two wicketkeepers - Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik - have also been named in the squad.

Parthiv was set to lead the India A team in the Emerging Players tournament in Australia so his place in that side will be filled by Suresh Raina.

Opener Gautam Gambhir was selected at the expense of Wasim Jaffer, his strong showing with the bat in the Indian Premier League, the tri-nation series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup earning him a place.

Virender Sehwag, Gambhir's opening partner in one-day matches, was named vice captain despite there being doubts over his fitness.

Sehwag sustained a groin injury during the recently concluded Asia Cup and was advised to rest for 10 days by India team physio Nitin Patel.

Paceman Munaf Patel returns to the team in place of the injured Sreesanth, as does Zaheer Khan who has recovered from an ankle problem.

Khan will lead the pace attack alongside RP Singh and Ishant Sharma, but Irfan Pathan, a member of the Test squad which played South Africa at home, was dropped.

The first Test begins in Colombo on July 23.