The Master is back to don India colours

Sachin Tendulkar, named in the 16-member squad on Tuesday for a Twenty20 game and five ODIs, will play in his first ODI since he hit a world record 200 not out against the Proteas in Gwalior on February 24. HT reports.

Sachin Tendulkar will return for the limited overs series in South Africa in January in the final build-up to the World Cup.

HT Image

Tendulkar, named in the 16-member squad on Tuesday for a Twenty20 game and five ODIs, will play in his first ODI since he hit a world record 200 not out against the Proteas in Gwalior on February 24.

Tendulkar has been selective playing ODIs to preserve himself.

He missed the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka where India triumphed, the August tri-series in the island which the hosts won as well as the three-match Australia home series where India won the only match that was played after rain had hit the other matches. He also sat out the 5-0 series sweep against New Zealand along with skipper MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh.

The selectors included leg spinner Piyush Chawla - he last played an ODI in 2008 - as the third spinner and dropped left-arm Ravindra Jadeja, who played the series against the Kiwis. Parthiv Patel, who hit back-to-back fifties on being recalled against the Kiwis, was also not chosen.