Tendulkar, Harbhajan likely to return for Sri Lanka series

India’s star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh are likely to return to the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting later this month. The team selection is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

The Indian ODI team has just returned from two back-to-back tournaments, both of which resulted in defeats in the finals. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side lost to Pakistan first in the tri-series final of the Kitply Cup in Bangladesh and then to defending champion Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded Asia Cup held in Pakistan. Veterans like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman may be recalled for the Test series.

Tendulkar, who was recovering from a groin injury, is reportedly fit. Since the first Test against South Africa in March this year when he picked up the injury, he has not played any international cricket. However, he played some games for Mumbai Indians in the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) and for English county club Lashings. He also was not able to play the subsequent tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup.

On the other hand, Harbhajan Singh will be available as he has served his five-match ODI ban following a controversy in the IPL.