India's chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth on Friday said that the Indian squad for the first Test against West Indies in Delhi has been chosen with an eye on the future and exuded confidence that the side would do well.
Srikkanth said the best available squad has been
picked.
"We think from the future point of view. We have to look at building the side from the perspective of the future".
The quintet of selectors have opted for a young side that includes five fresh faces - spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Rahul Sharma, pacers Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron and opener Ajinkya Rahane.
Srikkanth said Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Ishant Sharma were chosen only after the selectors were convinced they were fully fit.
"Everybody is 100 percent fit, I can assure you that fitness will not be a concern," he said.
He said the selection was preceded by a healthy discussion between the selectors, skipper MS Dhoni, coach Duncan Fletcher and Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Sanjay Jagdale.
He refused to go into the reasons for omitting veteran off spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Assuring the media persons that good days lie ahead for Indian cricket, Srikkanth said there was now healthy competition among the prospects which would serve the game well in the country.