Kaif and Laxman axed

VVS Laxman and Mohammad Kaif have been left out of India’s second test squad, to make room for Yuvraj Singh and an extra bowler.

In the drawn first test, Kaif scored a crucial 91, while Laxman was dismissed for a first ball duck. Yuvraj Singh will return to the side after injury, following a spectacular run of form in One Day Internationals.

Sreesanth is also absent after an impressive debut, but he is suffering from a virus. Munaf Patel, who took a ten-wicket haul against England in a tour match, looks set to make his debut while the last spot will go to either seamer RP Singh or leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.

Indian Squad: Rahul Dravid (c), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla