Yuvraj, Dravid back; Raina makes grade

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Yuvraj Singh was recalled to the team that will tour Sri Lanka for three Test matches from the middle of July after he sat out the South Africa series with a ligament injury and the just-concluded Asia Cup campaign in Dambulla. Suresh Raina makes the grade as a member of the 16 for the first time, having earlier come to cover for injured colleagues.

Also returning are middle-order stalwart Rahul Dravid who missed India’s last Test series, against South Africa after shattering a cheekbone in Bangladesh to flesh out a power-packed middle order that also includes Sachin Tendulkar and Venkatasai Laxman, while seamers Ishant Sharma and Shantakumaran Sreesanth will play support roles to Zaheer Khan in the Emerald Isle.
Three spinners have been picked, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha rejoining Harbhajan Singh while Wriddhiman Saha has been included as reserve wicketkeeper ahead of Dinesh Karthik who was flown in to replace the injured Virender Sehwag at the Asia Cup.
Saha made his debut in Nagpur against South Africa but was left out second Test in Kolkata.
Yuvraj was omitted from the ODI squad for the first time since the early 2000s over fitness issues that saw him have a poor run in IPL 3 and the subsequent T20 Worlds in the West Indies. Dhoni’s sustained support, however, ensured the powerful left-hander would find a place in the team.
Ishant and Sreesanth were both in the side for the Proteas’ series but were not in the scheme of things for the ODIs and their return was on the cards with Ashish Nehra opting out of Test matches and Praveen Kumar identified as a limited overs cricket specialist.
With Sehwag selected but still nursing a hamstring injury, the Krishnamachari Srikkanth-led selection panel opted to keep M. Vijay on as a reserve opener.
Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth.