India's squads for South Africa tour announced: Zaheer Khan makes a comeback in Tests

Zaheer Khan

India’s Test and ODI squads for the tour of South Africa have been announced.

Pace bowler Zaheer Khan makes a return to the Test team after nearly a year in the wilderness. Zaheer is one of five fast bowlers selected for the longer format of the game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma retain their places from the series against the West Indies.

Ambati Rayudu has been picked in the Test squad for the first time, and Ravindra Jadeja comes back in after missing the previous two tests through injury.

Wriddhiman Saha has been picked as a back-up to MS Dhoni in the wicket-keeping department.

Test squad: MS Dhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja.

For the ODIs, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh have been retained in the same squad despite poor performances in the recent past. Umesh Yadav has been included in the ODI squad for the first time since July.

ODI squad: MS Dhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane.

BCCI making the official announcement on Twitter:

Team for SA Tests: MSD(C), Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara, Virat, Rohit, Rahane, Ashwin, Bhuvi, Shami, Zak, Rayudu, Umesh, Saha, Ishant, Ojha, Jadeja

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2013

Team for SA ODIs: MSD (C), Dhawan, Rohit, Virat, Yuvraj, Raina, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bhuvi, Shami, Ishant, Rayudu, Mohit, Umesh, Mishra, Rahane

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2013