Dada dropped for Tri-series

With a view to give youngsters, who have done well in the domestic cricket a chance in limited overs cricket, Indian selectors on Sunday left out former captains Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid from the One-Day team for the triangular series in Australia starting next month.

BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah announced the 16-member side for the triangular series also featuring Sri Lanka and a one-off Twenty20 international against the hosts, which will be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Former captain Ganguly, who hit peak form upon his comeback last year, was snubbed in preference of the younger Uttar Pradesh batsman Suresh Raina, while Dravid, who struck form with a fine 93 in the third Test, was again neglected by the selectors after being dropped from the ODI series against Pakistan last year.

Another in-form batsman Down Under VVS Laxman, too, was not considered.

"Looking towards the future team of India, the selection committee has provided the youngsters who have done well in domestic cricket, an excellent platform," Shah said in a release.

"The selectors decided to field in young players for the tri-series. That's why you see a lot of youngsters in the side," Shah told CNN-IBN.

Batsmen Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma also kept their place in the 16-man squad while Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan and Munaf Patel were on standby, the release added.

Gautam Gambhir, who impressed during the Twenty20 World Championship triumph last year, sizzled in the domestic season as he hit back-back centuries in the semi-final and final of the Ranji Trophy to lead Delhi to their seventh title triumph and first in 16 years.

Gambhir's teammate Ishant Sharma kept his place in the side after his strong showing in the Test series, while dashing opener Virender Sehwag also retained his spot.

Suresh Raina got a surprise recall to the Indian team while his state-mate and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla was included as the second specialist spinner in the side along with Harbhajan Singh. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, though, failed to retain his place despite sterling performances last year.

Chief selector and former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, however, chose to remain tight-lipped after the selection.

UP all-rounder Praveen Kumar sealed his place for the tri-series after his stunning eight-wicket haul in the final of the Ranji Trophy against Delhi, despite ending up on the losing side. Praveen had made his debut against Pakistan in the home ODI series.

S Sreesanth, who missed the Test series in Australia following an injury, celebrated his return to the fold, while pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who returned from Australia midway during the ongoing Test series, is still nursing his injury.

The squad: MS Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh (vice-captain), Harbhajan Singh, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar.