Indian cricket team against Kiwis announced:  no major surprises

Mumbai: The cricket selection committee sprand no surprise which choosing the 15-member Indian squad for coming three-match test series against New Zealand starting with the first test match at Kanpur from September 22.

The selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil with Saba Karim, Gagan Khoda, Vikram Rathore and MSK Prasad met on Monday to select the team. Contrary to speculation, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan managed to retain their places despite rather lackluster performance in the recent past including a test series in West Indies.

All rounder Stuart Binny and pace bowler Shardul Thakur were,however, dropped from the side which toured the Caribbeans. batsman Sheldon Jackson, spinner Kuldeep Yadav and even Gautam Gambhir must consider themselves bit unlucky for missing the pick following their commendable performance in Duleep Trophy. Similarly, Manish Pandey, the skipper of India A which was in Australia was also expected to get a test call.

Ridhiman Saha further consolidated his position as the first choice wicket keeper in the test squad after M S Dhoni announced retirement from the longer version of the game.

Mrali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan continued to get support from the selectors even as Rohit Sharma is backed by the captain Virat Kohli. Cheteshwar Pujara earned his selection on the basis of two back to back centuries in Duleep Trophy, second being a double ton.

Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar,Mohammed Shami and Amit Mishra.