Yuvraj,Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla returns to Team India for Twenty20 World Cup

Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla were included in the Indian cricket team for the World Twenty 20 Championship in Sri Lanka as well as the two T20s against New Zealand in September. The two T20 Internationals against New Zealand, slated for the first week of September, will be a test for Yuvraj who underwent chemotherapy in the US earlier this year.

Yuvraj Singh has remained out of action since the second Test match against West Indies played from November 14-17 in Kolkata. Yuvraj’s inclusion, however, was not unanimous as the 30-year-old has not played in any competitive cricket for the past nine months. He only recently began light training at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

A delighted Yuvraj tweeted. “Can’t explain how I feel!” Yuvraj wrote. “Feels like I’m going to play for India for the first time. Its a special day for me. When I was diagnosed with cancer I always thought in my heart that one day I will come back and play for India. So here I am ready to represent my country once again. Its a huge honour. I can’t wait to step on the field and wave the Indian flag!”

Harbhajan’s selection was simply based on his past record as India’s spin department is pretty thin on experience. L. Balaji – out of reckoning for three years – who was included on the back of stellar performances for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL-V. The 30-year-old’s ability to bowl effective slower deliveries at the death has led to his selection over Umesh Yadav.

The surprise inclusion has to be Piyush Chawla, who has done precious little in the domestic season gone by but dearth of quality leg-break bowlers was the reason behind the Uttar Pradesh player getting the nod ahead of the likes of Rahul Sharma and Amit Mishra.

The World Twenty20 Championship event will be played in Sri Lanka from September 18 to October 7.

Indian Squad for T20 World Cup 2012 :

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Dinda.