Seasoned batsman Rahul Dravid's one-day future was on Thursday thrown into uncertainty after he was dropped from India's 15-member squad for the first two ODIs of a seven-match series against Australia starting October 25.
The 36-year-old Dravid, who made a comeback to the one-day fold recently in the September tri-series in Sri Lanka and the ensuing Champions Trophy in South Africa, failed to find favour with the selectors despite a decent show since returning, scoring 180 runs from five matches at an average of 36.
The dashing duo of Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh returned to the side after recovering from their respective injuries that forced them out of the Champions Trophy.
Rookie Uttar Pradesh pacer Sudeep Tyagi was the lone new face while another fast bowler Munaf Patel and young all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made a comeback to the squad announced by the BCCI after a selection panel meeting in Chennai on Thursday.
In an apparent fallout of India's Champions Trophy debacle, out of form all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and pacer R P Singh were dropped from the squad. Wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik and young all-rounder Abhishek Nayar were also left out.
The return of the experienced Yuvraj and Sehwag prompted the selectors to leave out Dravid as it would have been difficult to accommodate the Karnataka right-hander in the middle order. They instead decided to persist with young right-hander Virat Kohli.
Dravid, a regular in the Test squad, has compiled 10,765 runs in 339 one-dayers at an average of 39.43.
The 22-year-old Tyagi, a surprise pick in the team to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has played 16 first-class match and has taken 57 wickets at an average of 25.73. He has been rewarded for his fine show in the recent Challenger Series in Nagpur, taking three wickets against India Blue in the final.
The BCCI said Yuvraj, who is still recuperating from a fractured finger, will be completely fit by October 28 for the second one-dayer in Nagpur and might as well be available for the first one-dayer on October 25 in Vadodara.
"Selectors are advised that Yuvraj would definitely be fit to play on October 28. It is possible that he may be able to play the first match as well," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.
"The decision on the playing XI for the first match will be made based on Yuvraj's fitness on October 25," he added.
Sehwag, meanwhile, has already recovered from his shoulder injury and is currently playing in the Champions League Twenty20.
Selection Committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth said the return of the two explosive batsmen will bolster the Indian line-up.
"I am happy that we have named a balanced squad. Sehwag and Yuvraj have returned and they will strengthen the team," he said after the meeting.
Sehwag and Yuvraj's return will strengthen the Indian squad, chairman of national selection panel Krishnamachari Srikkanth said. Srikkanth hoped the team will yet again do well against Australia in the series, starting October 25.
"I am happy that we have named a balanced squad. Sehwag and Yuvraj have returned to the squad. They will strengthen the squad. For the last few years we have been doing well in bilateral series. I am confident that the team will do well against Australia," Srikkanth said after the selection committee meeting .
