The new BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke announced India's Test squad for the tour of West Indies following a meeting of the Selection Committee in Mumbai . The team to be led by Virat Kohli will have Ajinkya Rahane as its new Vice-Captain. Rookie Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur is the lone new face in the squad. The 24-year old right-arm medium pacer is a surprise pick with the selectors reposing their faith in the line-up that had played the last Test series against South Africa at home. A fit-again Mohammed Shami returns to the squad while all-rounder Stuart Binny retains his place. The tour of West Indies comprises four Tests in mid-July but the exact dates for the series are yet to be formalised. A second string team, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also picked by the selectors for the limited overs series in Zimbabwe. Kohli has been rested from the series scheduled from June 11 to 20, along with Murali Vijay and Ashish Nehra, who is due to undergo a surgery. Selection Panel head Sandeep Patil told reporters that it was the decision of the selection committee to pick a young side for Zimbabwe. The new-look team includes uncapped players – Vidharbha left-handed opener Faiz Fazal, off-spinner Jayant Yadav, Punjab middle-order batsman Mandeep Singh, and IPL star Yuzvendra Chahal. Squad for West Indies: Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane (v-c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, K L Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhimaan Saha, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Stuart Binny. Squad for Zimbabwe: M S Dhoni (c), K L Rahul, Maneesh Pandey, Karun Nair, Ambati Rayudu, Rishi Dhawan, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaspreet Bumrah, Barinder Sran, Mandeep Singh, Jaidev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal.
News On AIR | May 24, 2016 8:10 AM
India's squad for West Indies, Zimbabwe tours announced; Dhoni to lead ODI team