All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Monday returned to India’s Test squad after a gap of nearly 14 months as selectors desisted from making too many changes to the 16-member squad for the first two matches against South Africa.
The 26-year-old Jadeja was rewarded for his consistent performance in the domestic circuit and found a place alongside R Ashwin, who still remains doubtful owing to a side strain injury.
The selectors also made just one change in the ODI squad for the remaining two matches against Proteas, bringing in paceman Sreenath Arvind for fellow seamer Umesh Yadav.
Jadeja’s recall was not entirely unexpected as he has bagged 24 wickets in two domestic games for his Ranji team Saurashtra. Wriddhimaan Saha, who had missed the last Test against Sri lanka because of injury has been brought back to the squad, to be captained by Kohli.
The Test team has a balanced look in the batting department with Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay being the openers.
K l Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane will be the middle-order mainstays though Rahul can also open the innings if required.
The selectors have opted to go in with three specialist spinners in offie Ashwin, leg-break bowler Amit Mishra and left-arm spinner Jadeja will also add to the variety.
Although Ishant Sharma has been named in the squad, he will not be eligible to play the first Test having been banned by the ICC for his aggressive behaviour during the Sri lanka series.