By Cricbuzz
October 27 2010

India are back to their full strength side as the three injured players - VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, returned to the side for the three test match home series against New Zealand. The above mentioned players had missed the second test match against Australia at Bengaluru with injuries.

Ishant and Gambhir were struggling with knee problems and VVS had to bat with a runner, due to a bad back in that epic chase at Mohali. Due to the injuries sustained during the opening test at Mohali, the Indian selectors were forced to keep out the trio for the second test at Bengaluru.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who impressed one and all on his debut, retains his place, while Jaidev Unadkat and Abhinav Mukund - who both came in as replacements for Ishant and Gautam Gambhir - have been left out of the 15 man squad.

Gambhir, has scored only 65 runs in his last seven test innings and would be under pressure to perform against the Kiwis. An in-form Murali Vijay, is breathing down Gambhir's neck, though it must be said that Gambhir has not been lucky in recent times - with some decisions going against him and he was also forced to miss a few games due to untimely injuries.

Though Pujara played exceptionally well on his debut, making a crucial 72 in a match winning chase, he will have to sit out of the playing eleven as Laxman would take his place. Raina would continue to bat at No. 6, while an under pressure Dravid will get a chance at 3 to make some crucial runs before the arduous away tour of South Africa.

Yuvraj Singh, was again left disappointed when the selectors preferred Pujara as the standby batsman in case someone suffers an injury. Yuvraj Singh, has not played a test since the first test against Sri Lanka at Galle where he scored 52 and 5.

There were no major surprises in the 15 man squad with everyone in the bowling department retaining their places. Amit Mishra, continues to have the backing of the team management and will be the third spinner in the squad. Ashwin, who has had a good run of late in the shorter versions of the game will have to wait a little longer, before he gets in to the test squad.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters after picking the squad, the chairman of national selection committee, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, feels that the bench strength of the current team is good and it augurs well with 2011 World Cup only a few months away.

Srikkanth expressed confidence that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will show the same kind of consistency. "The team had performed extremely well against the Australians in both the Tests and One day series. Particularly the Bangalore Test was an icing on the cake," Srikkanth told the reporters. "The junior players have gelled well with the seniors. Going by this, we have selected the team for all the three Tests starting in Ahmedabad against New Zealand. I am confident that our players will continue their victory march," he added.

He said, "Our bench strength has come good and it was there for all to witness. This is a good sign for Indian cricket. Like it is said that may the best player win, I must say let the best team (India) win".

As for the one-day series against the Kiwis, Srikkanth said that the team for it would be picked later.

Indian Squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra



© Cricbuzz

Laxman, Gambhir return for NZ Test series

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 27/10/2010 11:26

Indian Cricket Fever
27/10/2010 11:26

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:04:10:55:26 by Max.

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Max
27/10/2010 11:32

So the selectors have picked a full strength team for the NZ Tests. Hope that they rotate the players during the ODI's...to keep them fresh for the tour of South Africa. This will be a big series for Gambhir though, he cannot afford any more failures.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
27/10/2010 18:42

I hope they prepare good wickets...with some bounce to try and get a feel for Saffie wickets... no point in producing batting friendly conditions...

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Birbal
27/10/2010 18:57

The last time NZ played in India they managed to draw both games on FEATHERBED wickets... If India repeat that it would be really really bad...

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Atul
27/10/2010 20:09

now with reverse swing , we are able to produce results on any pitch in india with 4/5 day turning pitch and uneven bounce.

I think even SA will produce flat wickets to please India and may be one live track .. but with zaheer/ishant/sree our bowling is very good.

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Birbal
27/10/2010 20:15

Atul that is a fair point... but didn't India have Zakky and Co. last time against NZ?..

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Atul
27/10/2010 21:27

but Zakky is much improved and now we are no 1, i have seen lot of time teams were losing AUS for no reason , may be plying against no 1 team wear down mentally and also average players in best team perform like champions.

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Birbal
27/10/2010 23:00

But we are talking about NZ not Aus... why did we allow these suckers to draw the series last time?

Especially after the Wonder-bras they prepared I was hoping India would dusty turners...instead we produced total shirt-fronts.

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Birbal
27/10/2010 23:58

Another point is that I think they should have rested Zaheer Khan... no need to burden him with 3 back to back Tests...

I would have tried out a few young pacers...Mithun, Unadkat..etc...

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Donsteppa
01/11/2010 08:11

Quote:

Birbal
The last time NZ played in India they managed to draw both games on FEATHERBED wickets... If India repeat that it would be really really bad...

It could be played on the road next to the stadium, and McCullum and co would eventually decide a big cross bat slog was needed against an innocuous straight one. I'm slightly hopeful about this series, but no expectations...

________________
Bring Back Bond.

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