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Dashing Wicket Keeper Batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named as the Captain of India's Twenty20 Campaign in South Africa. It comes as no surprise as Dhoni has been the most likely candidate to be named as the Skipper for the Twenty20 World Cup with just Yuvraj Singh providing any competition for that post. Yuvraj has been named as Dhoni's deputy for this maiden Twenty20 WC.

The Indian Selectors have also picked a squad for the 7-ODI Series against England giving a recall to Munaf Patel. The Selectors have retained the same squad that had taken part in the Belfast Series with the axe falling only on Sreesanth. Munaf Patel, the more steady bowler has proved his fitness by participating in the ongoing KSCA All India Tournament. However, the selectors have gone with Sreesanth instead of Munaf for the Twenty20 team. Dilip Vengsarkar has stated that Sreesanth's axing has nothing to do with his on-field behaviour during the Trent Bridge Test. Vengsarkar has also revealed that he expected Sreesanth to play in the third and final Test at The Brit Oval. The Chairman of Selectors might have got Sreesanth charged up for the final test as it will be one last opportunity to impress one and all on this ongoing tour.

The likes of Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh are still some distance away from making it back to the One Day team. But both these discards have found a place in the Twenty20 Squad and so has all rounder Irfan Pathan. Zaheer Khan has not been named in this squad confirming speculation that it was better to rest him and preserve him for Tests and ODIs. Zaheer according to Dilip Vengsarkar, the Chairman of Selectors is having a bruised heel. He would require rest for about three weeks to regain full fitness. The Twenty20 Squad is a mix of youth along with experienced campaigners following the absence of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Haryana's all rounder Joginder Sharma, who has played 4 ODIs has been included in the 15-man squad. The only uncapped player is Irfan Pathan's elder brother - Yusuf Pathan. The older Pathan (24 years old) is an off spinning all rounder who is making his presence felt in the domestic One Day tournaments in the last couple of seasons.

India has limited experience in the Twenty20 game. They have played just the one ODI which they had won against South Africa at Johannesburg. The Twenty20 World Cup starts from the 11th of September with India's first game being against Scotland on the 13th. India's 7-ODI Series against England kicks off from the 21st of this month but before that they have a one off ODI against Scotland in Glasgow on the 16th.

India's ODI Squad : Rahul Dravid (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Wicket Keeper, Vice-Captain), Dinesh Karthik (Wicket Keeper), Piyush Chawla, Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Rudra Pratap Singh

India's Twenty20 Squad : Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Wicket Keeper and Captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Joginder Sharma, Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh

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