India name unchanged squad for Kolkata Test

The Indian selectors have named an unchanged 14-man squad for the second Test against South Africa at Kolkata, which starts on Sunday (Nov 28). With the Eden Gardens pitch traditionally not as spinner-friendly as the others in India the think-tank will probably include an extra medium-pacer - Irfan Pathan, perhaps - in the playing XI.

Sourav Ganguly's hearing regarding the two-match penalty imposed for slow over-rates is scheduled for tomorrow, and he will play at Kolkata if he is cleared. If Ganguly is suspended, the selection committee will draft in a replacement.

Apart from Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman the rest of the batsmen made runs at Kanpur. And with Gautam Gambhir making an assured 96 in only his second Test the debate over the opening combination can rest for a while now.

Dinesh Karthik is still on probation, but the selectors seem determined to give him a proper opportunity to cement his place. But more than anything else India will hope for a pitch that gives them more joy than Green Park had on offer.

India squad for second Test
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly (capt), Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan.