Sachin in squad, doubtful for first Test

Kaif, Zaheer and Chopra are in the 15-member squad for first two Tests against Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar was included in the 15-member Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia for which the selectors brought back Mohammad Kaif, Zaheer Khan and opener Akash Chopra.

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The national selectors decided to pick Tendulkar, who has been out of action for the past six weeks because of a tennis elbow, after receiving a medical report which stated that he was "progressing well".

He will, however, have to pass a fitness test before taking the field in the high-profile series beginning in Bangalore on October 6.

"Tendulkar's fitness will be monitored on a day-to-day basis. His position will be ascertained and depending on his fitness before the match, he will be considered for selection," Cricket Board secretary SK Nair said after a two-hour meeting of the selection committee, which was also attended by captain Sourv Ganguly and coach John Wright.

Missing out on a berth in the squad was left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra, whose fitness is once again in doubt.

There were no new faces in the squad with the selectors reposing faith in the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag, both of whom struck centuries in the practice match against India A on Friday to break a prolonged lean patch.