Ojha, Jadeja selected for Twenty20 World Cup

Mumbai, May 4 (IANS) Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were the two new faces chosen for the 15-man India squad for next month's Twenty20 World Cup in England, selectors announced here Monday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the side to defend the title, while Virender Sehwag will be his deputy.

Besides Ojha and Jadeja, fast bowler Ishant Sharma, batsman Suresh Raina and all-rounder Praveen Kumar were also picked up.

Rudra Pratap Singh, who was the highest Indian wicket-taker in the victorious squad of the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship, is back in the national side after seven months.

Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa, who were in the winning team, have been left out despite being in the 30 probables.

India are in Group A with Bangladesh and Ireland. The tournament starts June 5 and the final is slated for June 21 at Lord's.

Team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha and Irfan Pathan.