2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh failed to make the cut for the upcoming ICC World Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand next month, as selection committee picked the 15-member team in Mumbai on Tuesday.
India World Cup Squad: MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny, Umesh Yadav.
MS Dhoni will once again lead India in the quadrennial event, who will be the defending champions this time around. The batting mainstay in the Indian batting line up Virat Kohli will be Dhoni’s deputy.
Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni are included as extra for the tri-series against Australia and England.
However, Ravindra Jadeja has been included in the side despite being unfit.
BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said Jadeja is undergoing rehabilitation and should be fit in 10 days. He also mentioned that Yuvraj Singh’s name was discussed in the meeting along with several other players.
Murali Vijay, who is in terrific form in the ongoing Test series against Australia, has been left out.
The marquee event gets underway from February 14, with India to launch the defence of their crown against Pakistan the next day.
The five-member selection committee comprises Sandeep Patil (chairman), Saba Karim, Vikram Rathore, Roger Binny and Rajinder Singh Hans.
Roger Binny, one of the selectors, has arrived for the meeting after his flight got delayed.
The selectors picked Ravindra Jadeja, but he is likely to be rested till the first match of the World Cup, which is quite a big risk.
