Rookie spinner Kuldeep Yadav earned his maiden call-up to India's ODI squad as the BCCI selection panel announced a 14-man squad, minus rested offspinner R Ashwin, for the first three ODIs of the five-match series against the West Indies.
Yadav, who is yet to make his first-class debut, made his claim to fame with India's under-19 squad during the World Cup and has of late made his presence felt for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Champions League Twenty20. He will become the first cricketer in the last 10 years to make it to the national team without playing a single first-class or list A match.
The squad, otherwise, remains without any surprises - besides the return of Amit Mishra who edged out Karn Sharma for the leg spinner's slot. The place left vacant by the injured ODI opener Rohit Sharma went to Murali Vijay. Opener Shikhar Dhawan and fast bowler Umesh Yadav also retained their places.
The squad, to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had no place for seniors like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, who have remained in the sidelines for quite a while. Apart from the selection of Yadav, there was no other major surprise in the squad which had no place for Karn Sharma, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson and Dhawal Kulkarni, all of whom figured in the 17-member ODI team that had toured England recently.
The pace department has seen no changes with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav retaining their places. With Ashwin rested, the spin department will be spearheaded by experienced leg-spinner Mishra in the company of Ravindra Jadeja and Yadav.
The first ODI of the five-match series against the West Indies will be held in Kochi on October 8, followed by games in New Delhi on October 11 and Vishakhapatna on October 14. The last two matches of the series will be played in Dharamshala (October 17) and Kolkata (October 20).
Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Murali Vijay, Kuldeep Yadav
