Yuvraj Singh headed to Australia

Yuvraj Singh has been recalled to the national team with India announcing their squads for the upcoming VB One-Day International and KFC T20 International fixtures against Australia, which kick off with an ODI at the WACA in Perth on January 12.

MS Dhoni has been named captain in both formats, with India naming five inclusions into their squad for the ODI series.

Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishi Dhawan, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma and Brainder Sran have come in for Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Amit Mishra, Stuart Binny, Sreenath Aravind, the injured Mohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

India’s ODI Squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (C) (Wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Rishi Dhawan, Brainder Balbirsingh Sran.

Indian Premier League star Raina was a surprise exclusion from the ODI squad for the Australia tour, while Shami is due to make his return from a knee injury.

"We have not written any player off - those who don't make a cut in these two teams. I'm not naming (names) but this opportunity that we have to tour Australia, we want to make the best use of it," India's chairman of selectors, Sandeep Patil said.

And ahead of India hosting the World T20 in 2016, the BCCI have also included Yuvraj in the T20 squad that will head to Australia in the New Year.

Yuvraj has not played for India since the 2014 World T20 final in Bangladesh, which Sri Lanka won by six wickets.

"I play cricket because I love the game," Yuvraj told Sportskeeda this week, in relation to the T20 squad touring Australia.

"My goal is to always enjoy and keep playing the sport. As I have always said that I let my bat do the talking. If I make it or not it's upto the selectors. But, if I do get selected it would make me happy as everyone would like to keep representing their country.

"My drive is the passion involved within the game."

Joining Yuvraj as inclusions in India’s T20 squad for the three matches, of which the first is scheduled at Adelaide Oval on Australia Day (January 26), are Hardik Pandya, Jadeja, Shami, Ashish Nehra and Umesh Yadav.

Blast From The Past: Yuvraj Singh was just 22 years old when he slammed his highest ODI score in Sydney in 2004

Nehra, 36, has not played an international for India since 2011.

Image Id: ~/media/B517D561CF114B5D9CD1B7192A8CB73C

Ashish Nehra in action for India in the 2011 World Cup

"Yuvraj has always been special. The selectors are happy and captain (MS Dhoni) is happy to have him back," Patil said.

"We will need experienced players in the T20 World Cup. The Australia tour (is the) perfect chance to give them a shot. Ashish Nehra is a consistent performer in T20 format. We selectors feel he will be useful in the team."

Nehra has taken 13 wickets in eight T20 matches for India at an economy rate of 8.83 runs per over.

The players excluded from India’s T20 squad from the recent 2-0 series loss to South Africa are Rayudu, Axar Patel, Mishra, Binny, Aravind and Mohit Sharma.

India’s T20 Squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (C) (Wk), Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Harbhajan Singh, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra.

India will be looking to improve on their performance in the Carlton Mid ODI series staged in January and February earlier in 2015, when they lost all three matches in the triangular tournament that Australia beat England in the final of ahead of teh ICC World Cup.

The ODI and T20 matches will be crucial for both India and Australia as BCCI and Cricket Australia selectors look ahead to the World T20, where Aaron Finch will try to lead Australia to their first-ever win in the tournament.