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Tendulkar retained; Dinda replaces Yadav for Kolkata Test

Last updated on: November 27, 2012 13:23 IST

Barring pacer Umesh Yadav, who missed out because of injury, the Indian selectors retained the squad of the second Test for the third match of the series against England.

Yadav was ruled out because of a back injury and advised rest for 10 to 12 days. He is replaced by Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda, who was already with the squad after being added as cover for Yadav before the Mumbai Test.

As expected, Sachin Tendulkar kept his place in the team despite recent failures.

The selectors, which met in Mumbai on Tuesday, did not want to make changes in the middle of a series, a view mooted by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni following India's 10-wicket loss in the second Test.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also retained his place despite a below par showing in Mumbai. The selectors were mulling having a leg spinner in the squad, but it seems Dhoni turned down the idea.

The third Test will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from December 5.

The teams for the fourth Test in Nagpur from December 13 and two-match Twenty20 series, will be picked later.

Indian team for 3rd Test: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh.