Bangalore, Mar 17: The Indian team for the first two Tests against South Africa was announced after a marathon two hour long meeting here on Monday evening. Mumbai’s Wasim Jaffer got the nod ahead of in-form Delhi batsman Gautam Gambhir in the 14-member squad.

As far as the rest of the batting is concerned, the Big Four Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman as expected will form the core.

The latest pace sensation Ishant Sharma will be missing out on the first Test, atleast as he still has not recovered from his injury. The Delhi speedster, who impressed one and all with his pace and aggression Down Under, has seen significant healing but needs time for the pain to subside and full healing to take place. The lanky pacer also suffers from an inflammation on his forefinger and Gloster advised him to continue with anti-inflammatory techniques until the problem is resolved.

RP Singh makes a comeback alongwith while left arm spinner Murali Kartik. Kartik, hence gets another chance to revive is stuttering career. Young leggie Piyush Chawla, who too showed a lot of heart in the CB series finals has been kept as the reserve spinner. Harbhajan Singh, who informed BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah of his fitness on Monday morning, will be undergoing a fitness test on March 21 along MS Dhoni. Dinesh Karthick has kept as the reserve for Dhoni. Skipper Anil Kumble completes the spin department.

Gambhir was widely believed as a likely replacement of Jaffer, who had suffered a torrid time in Australia. He had aggregated just 49 runs in the 6 innings of the 3 Tests he had played Down Under.

Gambhir on the otherhand had been the most successful batsman in the one day series that followed the Test matches. He aggregated 404 at a phenomenal average of 55 in the 10 one dayers he played. He also scored 2 centuries.

The first Test is schedules for March 26 at Chennai.

Team: Anil Kumble (Capt), MS Dhoni, Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, S Sreesanth and RP Singh

Reserve players: Piyush Chawla and Dinesh Karthick

Bhajji, Yuvi declared fit

The clouds over the fitness of Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh have seemingly cleared. Both the players have been ‘declared fit’ by the BCCI ahead of the selection committee meeting that would pick the 15 member Test team for the series against South Africa.

Yuvraj, along with Harbhajan Singh and new pace sensation Ishant Sharma, was scheduled to reach National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore to prove their fitness on Sunday. But Yuvraj and Harbhajan skipped for fitness test.

While Yuvraj, who reached Bangalore on Monday morning, was declared fit by BCCI, Harbhajan Singh, who did not appear in the NCA, was reported to have informed BCCI seceratry Niranjan Shah and Indian captain Anil Kumble about his fitness over phone.

Shah confirmed that both players had briefed the board about their fitness and that the BCCI has decided to take their word in the matter. "Harbhajan has informed the board that he is fit, and it was obvious to us during the Australia tour that he is not injured. Like Sachin Tendulkar who has informed us that he is fit, Harbhajan doesn`t have to get a clearance from the NCA”.

Harbhajan`s fitness was assessed by India physio John Gloster after the Australia tour and he was diagnosed as having a hamstring injury. Later, Gloster said in his report to the BCCI that Harbhajan needed rest, prompting speculation that he may miss the South Africa series.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma who underwent fitness test in Bangalore on Sunday was advised three weeks rest by the outgoing physio. However the newly appointed coach Gary Kirsten is keen to have him in the team.

The national selectors, headed by Dilip Vengsarkar, had wanted all India candidates to clear the NCA`s fitness test, as per the new BCCI norms, before considering them for selection. It remains to be seen whether they will take the Board`s word on Harbhajan Singh. The first Test is scheduled to begin on March 26 in Chennai.