Parthiv, Yuvraj axed for 4th Test

India has made four changes to the squad to play Australia in the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Mumbai - those of axing Parthiv Patel, Yuvraj Singh, Aakash Chopra and Ajit Agarkar for Dinesh Karthik, Dheeraj Jadhav, Gautam Gambhir and SS Paul.

Of all the replacements, the most likely was that of Parthiv, who are being given chance after chance to prove his keeping potential, failed miserably. He has been replaced by Karthik, who made his ODI debut in the Champions Trophy this year. However, according to the BCCI secretary SK Nair, MS Dhoni, who played some impressive knocks for India A recently, was also considered.

Gambhir, after months of knocking on the selectors' doors, finally gets a spot in the Test side, with every chance of making a debut. His inclusion was a result of Delhi team-mate Chopra being shown the door, after failing at the top of the order.

Yuvraj Singh after being drafted to open in the second Test, and later dropped from the third, has been replaced by Jadhav, who would provide another opening option to the team.

Indian squad:
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Deeraj Jadhav, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly (captain), Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Murali Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ashish Nehra, Shib Shankar Paul, Zaheer Khan, Deeraj Jadhav.

Posted by Sudeep