Yuvraj makes comeback for World T20, Laxman retained for Tests

Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar returned for the two-match home Test rubber against New Zealand commencing at Hyderabad on August 23 after skipping the bilateral five-match limited oves series in Sri Lanka that concluded earlier this month.

The national selection panel with Krishnamachari Srikkanth at its helm, that is to be replaced at the Cricket Board's next AGM in September, also decided not to take any tough decision by retaining the misfiring V V S Laxman in the Test squad.

There was a big question mark over the Hyderabad stylist's future after a dismal run of scores in the last two four-Test rubber played and lost by India in England and Australia and Laxman was in woeful form.

The selectors also made Gautam Gambhir vice captain for the T20 World Championships as well as the two T20 Internationals after having made fellow-Delhi batsman Virat Kohli as Mahendra Singh's deputy for the tour of Bangladesh held in March.

In another interesting pick, senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has also been recalled to the team after a gap of one year along with veteran seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who makes a comeback after three years.

Yuvraj's selection was on the cards after he was declared fit by the physio and trainer at the National Cricket Academy where he had been camping for the past one month.

"Yuvraj has been declared fit, so he makes a comeback. And all of us know, if he gets going, he can singlehandedly win matches," chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth told reporters after the meeting. MORE