Mongia, Hirwani, Laxman recalled, Sanghvi gets nod

Baroda stumper Nayan Mongia, veteran leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani and Hyderabad skipper and middle-order batsman VVS Laxman have been recalled to the Indian cricket team which will take on the mighty Australians in the first test to be played at Wankhede stadium here from February 27 to March 3.

Announcing the team in Mumbai on Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and selection committee convenor Jaywant Lele and chairman Chandu Borde said Hirwani was selected on the basis of his performance in the domestic circuit, including Duleep Trophy.

Hirwani last played for the country in 1995 while Mongia was included after CBI exonerated him from betting and match-fixing scandal. Delhi left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi, who claimed five wickets playing for India A at Nagpur in Aussie tour opener, was also picked in the team.

The 14-member Indian team announced here today: Sourav Ganguly (Capt), S Ramesh, SS Das, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Hemang Badani, Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar, Nayan Mongia (WK), Narendra Hirwani, Harbhajan Singh, Rahul Sanghvi and Zaheer Khan.