Trailing 2-3 in the seven-match one-day series against West Indies, India's task became even tougher when Sourav Ganguly was rested from the squad for the last two matches. Ganguly had requested the selectors for a break to treat a niggling back injury. Rahul Dravid will lead the team for the rest of the series.

Among other changes announced were the omission of JP Yadav and L Balaji, and the inclusion of Sarandeep Singh and Reetinder Sodhi.

Yadav was unimpressive in the two matches he played in this series, while Balaji had a nightmarish debut at Vadodara, being carted all around the park by Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds. Figures of 4-0-44-0 meant that his exclusion was only to be expected, though he could argue that Ajit Agarkar, who forced his way back with a five-for against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, fared no better against the marauding West Indian openers in the earlier matches.

Sarandeep has only played two ODIs so far, the last against Zimbabwe earlier this year, and is often thought to be more suited to Test cricket. The decision to include him might be a warning to Harbhajan Singh, who, apart from his performance at Rajkot, has failed to impress.

Sodhi has been touted as an answer to India's perennial search for an allrounder, and makes a comeback after more than a year in the wilderness – the last of his 17 one-day matches came in October 2001, against South Africa at Durban.

Dinesh Mongia retains his place despite not having played a single match this series, and with Ganguly opting out, is likely to open the batting with Virender Sehwag.

The squad
Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, V V S Laxman, Rahul Dravid (capt & wk), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Sanjay Bangar, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Murali Kartik, Sarandeep Singh.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd