MUMBAI: India’s selectors on Tuesday chose three frontline spinners to help Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men defend the World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand from next month.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was joined by left-armers Ravindra Jadeja and young Akshar Patel in a 15-man squad announced in Mumbai for the showpiece event.

Jadeja was selected despite being treated for a shoulder injury that forced him out of the ongoing Test series in Australia. Patel, 20, has claimed 14 wickets in nine ODIs so far.

“Jadeja is doing wonderfully well in his recovery process and we are hopeful he will be fit in 10 days time,” Indian cricket board secretary Sanjay Patel said.

The squad includes just four players — Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Ashwin — who were part of the winning team in 2011.

Squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Stuart Binny.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2015

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