Rookie Jadeja named in India squad for Sri Lanka tour

India's cricket selectors on Sunday included uncapped all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the five one-day matches and a Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka starting later this month.

Jadeja, 20, replaced injured off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in the 15-man squad announced by Indian cricket board's joint secretary Sanjay Jagdale here.

"Harbhajan Singh is suffering from a hamstring injury and Jadeja will take his place in the squad," Jagdale said. Left-handed Jadeja gave a good account of himself in India's premier first-class tournament for the Ranji Trophy, picking 42 wickets from nine matches while scoring 739 runs.

Medium-pacer Praveen Kumar was recalled at the expense of batsman Virat Kohli.

The Indians will play the first two one-dayers in the central town of Dambulla on January 28 and 30. The remaining three games will be held in Colombo on February 2, 5 and 8.

The Twenty20 international is to be played in Colombo on February 10.

India last toured Sri Lanka in July-August 2008, losing the Tests 2-1 before winning the one day series 3-2.

India's squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar. Coach: Gary Kirsten (RSA).

MUMBAI, Sunday, AFP