Zaheer, Dasgupta in Test team

Baroda's left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan and Bengal wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta were included in the Indian team for the first Test against Zimbabwe, at Nagpur, from February 21.

The 14-member squad, announced by selection committee chairman Chandu Borde in Delhi on Saturday, also includes Rahul Dravid, who had missed the one-day series against England due to a shoulder injury, and all-rounder Sanjay Bangar.

Bangar had played Mohali Test against England, but was sidelined for the rest of the series because of a hamstring injury suffered in that game.

Zaheer was dropped for the recent Test series against England following a poor tour to South Africa late last year. The 23-year-old had been struggling with both form and fitness. He was included in the squad for the six-match one-day series against England, but did not play in any of the matches. He, however, impressed the selectors with a fine performance in the Ranji trophy semi-finals, completing a 10-wicket match haul to lift holders Baroda to victory over Punjab for a place in the final.

After announcing the team, Borde said Zaheer "bowled beautifully" against Punjab. "He is looking fitter now."

Wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta was retained despite some poor keeping because of his good showing as an opening batsman in the series against England.

The team
Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
S S Das
Virendra Sehwag
V V S Laxman
Anil Kumble
Javagal Srinath
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Sarandeep Singh
Deep Dasgupta
Sanjay Bangar
Tinu Yohanan