Rahul Dravid feels that the likes of Mohammed Shami , Bhuvneshwar Kumar could have gained match practice before their tour of New Zealand while Mumbai pair Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma could have 'raised the profile' of the tournament.
MS Dhoni feels it is not feasible to have a change of captaincy in any formats with the 2015 World Cup just a year away. He believes that the new person will not have enough time to gain the experience required.
Zaheer is just back from South Africa and his inclusion will boost a depleted Mumbai, who have been found struggling this season and there bowling has floundered at times.
Coming from a humble middle class family in a small town of Rewa, the 24-year-old was on Tuesday named in both the Test and ODI squads for India's upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Varun Aaron last played for India in 2011 against The West Indies. He hopes to make use of this opportunity in New Zealand where the conditions are expected to help him.
The first ODI is scheduled at the McLean Park, Napier on January 19 followed by matches on January 22 (Seddon Park, Hamilton), January 25 (Eden Park, Auckland), January 28 (Seddon Park, Hamilton) and January 31 (Westpac Stadium, Wellington).
As he walked out to bat against Delhi at the Ferozeshah Kotla, Stuart Binny, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, was congratulated by his team mates and Delhi players including skipper Gautam Gambhir.
Yuvraj Singh has been in scratchy form ever since he made his India comeback in the ODI series against Australia and was dismissed for a second-ball duck in the last ODI he played against South Africa at the Wanderers. Selectors drop Pragyan Ojha from Test squad. Madhya Pradesh pacer Ishwar Pandey picked.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson says India change pitches at home according to their needs and therefore, curators in Auckland and Wellington must also prepare wickets that will favour the local side.
The 15-man New Zealand team for the South Africa was declared on Friday. Brendon McCullum is the captain. Veteran batsman Peter Fulton has been recalled to the New Zealand squad after a three-year absence and will vie with Australian-born Dean Brownlie to replace former captain Ross Taylor in the batting lineup.
The second Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore was fascinatingly poised at stumps on the third day, with New Zealand 232 for 9, a lead of 244. Having chased 207 here to win against Australia in 2010, and with the pitch showing little signs of wear, India hold a slender advantage.
On a day that saw bowlers dominate the first half and batsmen the second, India were well served by their younger batsmen for the second time in two Tests, as they ended the second day of the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on 283 for five, still 82 runs behind New Zealand's first innings 365.
New Zealand vs India. Bangalore Test - first day's highlights. Ross Taylor, Kruger van Wyk and Martin Guptill were the bright spots for New Zealand while Pragyan Ojha shone for India as Black Caps take the honours on Day 1 of the second Test match.
Troubled batsman Jesse Ryder was omitted on Thursday from New Zealand's 15-man Test squad to tour the West Indies, with South Africa-born paceman Neil Wagner one of two new faces in the line-up.
A gripping second day of Test cricket at the University Oval in Dunedin left precious little separating the teams, with New Zealand five runs ahead of South Africa's 238, with a wicket in hand.
New Zealand will give South African-born wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk his Test debut against the Proteas on Wednesday after a hip injury sidelined regular gloveman BJ Watling.