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Mumbai: Axar Patel's prominent rise as an international cricketer in a span of just over six months has continued with India's selectors naming him in the squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup, while allrounder Stuart Binny also found a place in India's 15-member squad for the mega event in Australia and New Zealand next month.
The BCCI selection committee met in Mumbai to pick the final 15, and were joined by MS Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher via teleconference from Sydney where the Test team is currently touring.
Dhoni will lead the team's defence of the coveted trophy won under his leadership in 2011. From that squad, apart from Dhoni there are just three survivors - Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and R Ashwin.
The squad contains four allrounders, including Ravindra Jadeja whose fitness remains to be proven. Jadeja recently returned home from Australia with a shoulder, and though not a certainty for the ODI ti-series starting January 16 he could still find a World Cup berth because the BCCI can, as per the tournament rules, replace him in their squad of 15 at a later date.
As widely expected, there was no surprise recall for Yuvraj Singh who is enjoying a surge in form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.
As expected, three opening options in Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, the latter two who can also be used in the middle order -- Kohli, Raina, Dhoni and Rayudu to follow.
The allrounders slots were filled by Ashwin, who is also India's No 1 spinner in limited-overs cricket, 20-year-old Axar, Binny and Jadeja.
The pace bowling attack comprises Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, none of whom has featured in a World Cup squad previously.
In addition to these 15 selected for the World Cup, seamers Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni were chosen to travel to Australia for the one-day tri-series that follows the Tests.
India squad for World Cup: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (vice-captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Stuart Binny
India squad for tri-series: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (vice-captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Stuart Binny
