India recall Gambhir for UK tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has recalled exiled batsman Gautum Gambhir and dropped veteran seamer Zaheer Khan for India’s upcoming Test tour of England.

Gambhir played the last of his 54 Tests in December 2012, against England, and is one of only three squad members with playing experience on English soil.

India captain MS Dhoni said in South Africa in December last year that Gambhir was India’s third best Test opener, and with 578 runs at 48.16 in the Ranji Trophy (India’s first-class competition) the classy left-hander booked his ticket on the five-Test tour starting June 26.

Zaheer, 35, hasn’t been included despite taking nine wickets in his two Tests against New Zealand in February, India's last engagement in Test cricket.

The unusually large squad of 18 players includes six fast bowlers, leaving no room for the senior statesman Zaheer, possibly signalling the end of his 92-Test career in which he claimed 311 wickets.

One of the ‘quick six’ is Rajasthan medium-pacer Pankaj Singh, who wasn’t surprised when he got the good news after taking 39 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.

“This was my last chance to stake a claim, hence I was expecting a call-up,” Pankaj told Wisden India.

“I have been quite consistent for the past four years in the domestic circuit. This year, apart from the Ranji Trophy matches, I did my best in limited-overs too.

“With age catching up, it was my last chance.”

At 29, Pankaj, along with Stuart Binny, are the two senior medium pacers in the squad, but both men are yet to make their Test debut, though Pankaj never gave up on representing India at the highest level.

“I was disappointed when I wasn’t picked for the South Africa and New Zealand series, but it is never too late to represent your country, that kept me going,” he said.

“Given a chance (in the playing XI), I’ll definitely make it count.”

The one-day international squad travelling to Bangladesh was also named, which sees Dhoni and Virat Kohli rested and Robin Uthappa return to ODI cricket.

Currently wearing the orange cap as the leading run-scorer in the Indian Premier League, Uthappa’s blistering form could no longer be ignored despite playing his last ODI six years ago.

When asked if the hard work he’d put in to get back into the ODI team had paid off yet, Uthappa was frank in his reply.

“I wouldn’t say it has paid off as yet, but it has given me an opportunity to reap benefits,” said Uthappa.

“It is not about being a part of the Indian team; it is about winning matches for my country right now.

“I am grateful that I have got that opportunity and I am looking forward to it. I am happy that my performances have given me a chance to play for my country and I feel proud about that fact.

“I want to win matches for India and perform my role as an opening batsman to the best of my ability.

“At this point of time though I am only thinking about the next game in the IPL. I have had a dream of a season, winning almost everything in the domestic circuit, and to top it up with the IPL title would be amazing.”

ODI Squad to Bangladesh

Suresh Raina (captain), Robin Uthappa, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Wriddhiman Saha, Parvez Rasool, Akshar Patel, Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Stuart Binny, Mohit Sharma, Amit Mishra.

Test Squad to England

MS Dhoni (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishwar Pandey, Ishant Sharma, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh.