India's Champions Trophy squad announced

On Thursday, India's selectors decided to bring Harbhajan Singh back to the limited overs squad after his brief suspension following a controversy earlier this year. The offie, who is currently playing in the Test series in Sri Lanka, missed a Bangladesh tri-series and the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

Also recalled to the one-day squad were star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and pace bowler Zaheer Khan, who had been sidelined with injuries but both are featuring in the ongoing Test series in Sri Lanka.

The Indian cricket board's secretary, Niranjan Shah said Mahendra Dhoni will be back to lead the team against Sri Lanka and the biennial Champions Trophy, after missing the Tests against Sri Lanka. Dhoni was rested after playing non-stop cricket for a couple of years.

"The selectors have rested Ishant Sharma from the one-dayers against Sri Lanka, but he will be back in the squad for the Champions Trophy," Shah told reporters after the team selection meeting.

Shah said India will send 16 players for the one-dayers in Sri Lanka, and the squad will be reduced to 15 for the Champions Trophy in September. Paceman Munaf Patel and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel will be omitted and Sharma brought back in.

The selectors also brought in rookie middle-order batsman Virat Kohli, while dropping batsman Robin Uthappa, all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and leg spinner Piyush Chawla from the squad that lost the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka.

Kohli led India to a successful Under-19 World Cup campaign in Malaysia and was also the second highest run-getter in the recently concluded Emerging Players tournament in Australia.

Squad for Champions Trophy
Mahendra Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma Munaf Patel