India name squads for Tests, ODIs

Fast bowler Umesh Yadav has been dropped from India's ODI squad with two matches remaining in the series against South Africa while injured Ravichandran Ashwin has been included in the squad for the Tests that follow, the BCCI has announced.

Sreenath Aravind replaces Yadav in the only change to the Indian ODI squad. He made his international debut in the first T20I of South Africa's tour of India but figures of 1-44 from 3.4 overs in that encounter saw him left out for the second match.

However, Yadav's poor form in the first two games of the ODI series, which South Africa lead 2-1, has led to his axing after the third game. Yadav had conceded 71 runs from his 10 overs in the first game against South Africa before going for 52 from eight in the second.

He took 18 wickets in the World Cup earlier this year but has gone for more than seven runs an over in his last four ODI matches.

India's ODI skipper, MS Dhoni, has often mentioned the need for Indian speedsters not to sacrifice direction for speed and this was reiterated at the end of the first ODI as well.

"Listen, what’s important is the consistency. We have emphasised a lot on pace, but what is crucial is to exploit the condition," Dhoni said after that first defeat.

"If the wicket is on the slower side, you want to be more consistent with your line and length. If you have pace along with that, then you can make a huge difference.

"Umesh (Yadav) is definitely somebody who can bowl quick for us. Over the years we’ve seen he gives us very good performances but at the same time he has a few on-and-off days. Hopefully, with a few more games and a bit more exposure, that’ll help him."

Meanwhile, Ashwin has been rested from the remaining two ODIs to help him recover from a side strain that has already seen him miss the last two matches.

Despite India needing to win both their remaining two matches to ensure they don't lose their first-ever home series to South Africa, the selectors have decided to persist with struggling batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina.

The selectors have also opted to bring Ravindra Jadeja back into the Test squad after dropping him from the team for the matches in Sri Lanka recently.

Jadeja's excellent form in the two Ranji Trophy matches he recently played have sparked his inclusion. He took 24 wickets in four innings at 8.25 and also hit two fifties in those games for his state side of Saurashtra in the Ranji games.

The left-arm spinner replaces Harbhajan Singh, who had featured in the one-off Test against Bangladesh and then played in the first Test of their three-match series in Sri Lanka. The Punjab off-spinner could manage figures of just 1-90 in Sri Lanka.

Ishant Sharma also retains his place in the Indian Test squad despite being banned by the ICC for one Test for his on-field misconduct during the Sri Lanka series.

There was talk Ishant may be brought back for the remaining two ODIs but he broke down with a hamstring injury while playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. Once fit, he will be in contention to be picked in India's XI for the second Test against South Africa after serving his ban.

The selectors also named Cheteshwar Pujara the captain of the 13-man Board President's XI squad for their two-day tour game against South Africa later this month.

India squad for remaining two ODIs:

MS Dhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Axar Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Gurkeerat Singh, S Aravind, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh

India squad for first two Tests:

Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma

Board President's XI squad:

Cheteshwar Pujara (c), KL Rahul, Unmukt Chand, Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Naman Ojha, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Sheldon Jackson, Karn Sharma, Nathu Singh