October 08
Amit Mishra in Indian squad

BANGALORE: Young leg-spinner Amit Mishra was surprise inclusion in the Indian squad, while stumper Ajay Ratra a notable exclusion, for the Test cricket series against West Indies.  Teenaged Parthiv Patel also got chance to cement his place in the team in absence of a second specialist wicket-keeper in the squad.  The selection committee headed by Brijesg Patel, joined by Indian coach John Wright, selected a squad of 14 for the first and second Tests against West Indies, at Mumbai and Chennai. Senior cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble are fit to play, and are joined by veteran medium-pacer Javagal Srinath who, after initially retiring from Test cricket, has reconsidered his decision.

MUMBAI: India's captain Sourav Ganguly (L) and teammate Harbhajhan Singh (R) do warm-up exercises during a practise session on October 7, 2002. India and the West Indies play the first of their three-Test match series here from tomorrow.

The other selections to be automatically pencilled in were Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan. The left-arm seamer had impressive Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka recently and will be a major part of India's plans for the series against West Indies. 

Opening batsman Shiv Sunder Das, who has struggled with form in the recent past, gets another chance to establish his credentials and re-affirm his opener's slot in the side in this home series. 

All-rounder Sanjay Bangar, who bowls useful medium-pace and can bat at the top of the order, will also be key member of the side in case Ashish Nehra does not regain fitness in time for first Test, starting on October 9. 

Nehra sustained injury in Champions Trophy, splitting the webbing between two fingers of his bowling hand. He is said to be recovering quickly. 

Squad: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Bangar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Shiv Sunder Das, Amit Mishra.