The Indian Selectors bowled a googly out of nowhere by recalling the discarded Virender Sehwag in the squad for the Australian tour. Sehwag was not even a part of the 24 probables that were named a week back. The Selectors have given the nod to Rajasthan’s opening bowler Pankaj Singh in the 16-man squad.
Virender Sehwag’s was indeed a shocking inclusion. Many people around the world would have never thought that Viru could have made the Australian Tour for the test matches after not getting selected among the probables. Sehwag didn’t perform at all in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. What demanded his place in the national team was the reputation of being one of the world’s most destructive batsman on his day. While most batsmen are tentative to play the Australian fast bowlers on the fast and bouncy tracks down under, Virender Sehwag made it look ridiculously simple by smashing the Aussies for a blistering 195 in less than a single day’s play on the Boxing Day Test at MCG. Sehwag was expected to play against Pakistan because of his smashing record against them but couldn’t make it. He has got his chance this time which could be because of the shoulder strain that Gautam Gambhir has picked up which has ruled him out for atleast three weeks.
Among the fast bowlers, Munaf Patel has been ignored because of his lack of intensity in the test series against Pakistan. He has been advised to play more domestic cricket before getting into contention. Sreesanth misses out because of a shoulder injury but he could make it to the last two tests as and when he regains fitness. While Zaheer, RP Singh select themselves in the squad, Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma have been added following their impressive performances in the third test at Bangalore. Pankaj Singh is the fifth pace bowling option. He has had a good season this year with Rajasthan where he has been amongst the wickets. The 22-year-old is a tall bowler who gets the ball to seam around at a decent pace of 130kmph. The second wicket keeper to support Dhoni in the side is Dinesh Karthik as expected. There is no place for Murali Kartik which is also expected as two specialist spinners is just enough on the fast Australian wickets.
India Test Squad for Australia : Anil Kumble (Captain), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Dinesh Karthik (Wicket Keeper), Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Irfan Pathan, Pankaj Singh, Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh