Opener Akash Chopra and pacemen Avishkar Salvi and Laxmipathy Balaji have been included in the 14-member Indian squad for the first Test against New Zealand, starting in Ahmedabad on October 8.

All-rounder Sanjay Bangar, who had opened the innings for India in the last seven Tests, has been dropped.

Mumbai leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule and Punjab batsman Yuvraj Singh have also found a place in the team.

The Team:

Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), V V S Laxman, Akash Chopra, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Laxmipathy Balaji, Avishkar Salvi, Sairaj Bahutule, Yuvraj Singh.