Bahutule, Nilesh Kulkarni for final Test

Rifat Jawaid

Mumbai spinners Sairaj Bahutule and Nilesh Kulkarni will reinforce the Indian team for the third and final Test against Australia, at Madras, starting on Sunday, March 18.

They replace spinners Venkatapathy Raju and Narendra Hirwani, who were in the 14 for the second Test.

Also making a comeback into the squad after missing the second Test on account of injury is Javagal Srinath. He replaces fellow paceman Venkatesh Prasad.

The selectors left the batting department untouched.

Announcing the team, chairman of selectors Chandu Borde said, "Horses for courses was the policy when choosing the team for the third Test. What favours the team will be done."

Board of Control for Cricket in India honorary secretary Jaywant Lele said Raju and Prasad were dropped due to lack of performance. He also informed that Srinath will have to undergo a fitness test. If he fails the test, he said, Orissa medium pacer Debashish Mohanty will replace him.

Ditto for wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, who hurt his nose on the fifth day of the second Test, hit by a Harbhajan Singh delivery. If he is not fit, he will be replaced by Bombay skipper Sameer Dighe and not Vijay Dahiya, as the latter too is injured.

Lele clarified that Ajit Agarkar was not considered for the team at his request. He said Agarkar has lost a lot of weight and was not available for selection.

Borde said three spinners will play in the final Test. Which three will play will only be decided after having a look at the track, he said.

Defending opener Sadagoppan Ramesh's retention in the team, Borde said the Tamil Nadu batsman is capable of scoring runs.

Exuberant skipper Sourav Ganguly echoed Borde's view, saying the team has been picked "for the course". He agreed the team's injury problems are a cause for concern.

The skipper defended left-arm spinner Kulkarni's inclusion in the side, saying the Chepauk wicket always takes turn.

The team:

Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Shiv Sunder Das
Sadagoppan Ramesh
Hemang Badani
Harbhajan Singh
Sharandeep Singh
Sairaj Bahutule
Nilesh Kulkarni
Zahir Khan
J Srinath
Nayan Mongia

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