Kuldeep Yadav looks like being the next big Indian spinner – or at least the selectors seem to think so -- after the left-arm chinaman bowler was given a shock call-up into the India squad for the first three ODIs against the West Indies.
Yadav has been in stellar form for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League T20, but having not played even a single senior domestic one-dayer so far, the 19-year-old has been drafted in as the third spinner in India's team.
The place opened up the Indian selectors rested R Ashwin, with Karn Sharma, part of the team for the England tour, also missing out on a place in the squad.
Amit Mishra, though, has returned to the India squad and will most probably play the second spinner's role against the West Indies alongside Ravindra Jadeja, after impressing for India A against the West Indies in a practice match on Friday.
The stunning story, however, remains Kuldeep Yadav, who has only played a grand total of eight senior T20 matches.
However, the selectors, seeing the uniqueness of the left-armer, have decided to take a chance to see just how he performs on the senior international stage, having previously represented India in U-19 cricket.
The players missing out from the England tour, apart from Karn Sharma, are Sanju Samson, who has not been picked as the reserve wicketkeeper seeing as the series is at home, Dhawal Kulkarni and Stuart Binny, who has just not quite made as much of an impact as he would have liked on the international stage.
Amongst the batsmen, it is as you were, with Murali Vijay retaining his role as the reserve opener in the absence of the injured Rohit Sharma.
That should also mean Ajinkya Rahane continues to open the innings at the top along with Shikhar Dhawan, a batsman who will certainly be thrilled to be back in more familiar conditions.
India are scheduled to play five one-day internationals against the West Indies, with the first one set to take place in Kochi on Wednesday.
India squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav.
