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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Zaheer back in Test team for SA tour, Rayudu replaces Tendulkar

Zaheer back in Test team for SA tour, Rayudu replaces Tendulkar

Last updated on: November 25, 2013 14:36 IST
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Zaheer KhanZaheer Khan has made a comeback to the Indian Test team for the tour of South Africa.

The veteran pacer was included in the squad for next month's two-Test series, but there was no place for Gautam Gambhir in both the squads, despite the left-hander displaying good form recently for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.

Zaheer, 35, last played for India in December last year, against England, and had a good performances in the Ranji Trophy, claiming 13 wickets in three matches.

The veteran pacer, who has taken 295 wickets in 88 Tests, will bring the much-needed experience to the young Indian pace attack, comprising Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and Ravindra Jadeja will look after the spin duties.

Ambati Rayudu was included in the Test squad in place of Sachin Tendulkar, who retired after the series against the West Indies earlier this month.

Wriddhiman Saha was named reserve wicketkeeper of the Test squad.

After a poor showing against Australia, Ishant made a comeback to the ODI squad, while Mohit Sharma retained his place ahead of R Vinay Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat.

Yuvraj Singh retained his place in the ODI team despite a poor run of form against Australia and in the ongoing series against the West Indies, while Mumbai's Ajinkya Rahane also found a place in the squad.

India plays three ODIs and two Tests in South Africa, from December 5 to 30.

Teams:

Test squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja.

ODI squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane.

Image: Zaheer Khan

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