India's squad for the tour of Sri Lanka

Sehwag and Zaheer return, Tendulkar skips SL tour

Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan have returned to the Indian team for the limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka; both were rested for the Asia Cup in March. Sachin Tendulkar, who played in the CB series in 2011-12 and the Asia Cup, will be skipping the tour that includes five ODIs and one T20 game.

"It is a long season ahead and I think we will come back to winning ways. Sachin wants to extend his career," the BCCI's chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth told reporters. "He is spacing it out very well."

Ravindra Jadeja, the allrounder, has been dropped for the tour after poor returns in the CB series in Australia. He had a mixed IPL, averaging 15.91 with the bat in 19 matches and taking 12 wickets at 22.75. Pragyan Ojha, the left-arm spinner, who wasn't picked for the Asia Cup has made it to the 15-man squad. Ojha picked up nine wickets in nine IPL games, at 24.44. There was no place for seamer Praveen Kumar either; Praveen collected nine wickets in 16 games at 48.22 in the IPL.

Ajinkya Rahane, who last played for India in December 2011, has been named in the squad, following a good IPL in which he finished as the fourth-highest run-getter. He made 560 runs at an average of 40 and also scored a couple of half-centuries in the limited-overs leg of the India A tour of the West Indies last month.

Fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who was rested for the Asia Cup, returned to the squad. Batsman Manoj Tiwary and legspinner Rahul Sharma were retained but the Pathan brothers, Yusuf and Irfan, who played the Asia Cup were left out.

Sehwag missed the Asia Cup due to back spasms and Zaheer, following a full tour of Australia, was also advised rest for that tournament in Bangladesh. Virat Kohli will remain vice-captain for the upcoming tour. "The idea is continuity," Srikkanth said. "Virat got brilliant hundreds after becoming vice-captain which shows that he likes responsibility."

Among the seamers, Ashok Dinda and Vinay Kumar will support Zaheer and they'll be part of a bowling line-up that includes three specialist spinners, Rahul, R Ashwin and Ojha. Harbhajan Singh, who recently signed a deal with Essex for the second half of the county season, was not selected.

India's squad for the tour of Sri Lanka

MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virat Kohli (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, R Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane
Out: Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar
In: Ajinkya Rahane, Pragyan Ojha, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav

Sehwag Creat ODI Batting Record In Gwaliour

Sehwag smashes highest ODI score

Sehwag Double Century Highlights

India's Virender Sehwag scored 219 in the fourth ODI against the West Indies to beat Sachin Tendulkar's previous record score in limited-overs internationals.

The right-hander flayed the touring side's attack to all parts of the ground at Indore on his way to becoming only the second batsman to hit an ODI double hundred.

Sehwag passed Tendulkar's 200 - made against South Africa at Gwalior last year - when he steered Andre Russell through the vacant gully region to register his 23rd boundary.

By the time he finally holed out to long-off the India skipper had recorded 25 boundaries and seven sixes.

Sehwag reached his first century with a four over point to get to three figures in 69 balls. Another 71 deliveries were required to amass 200 as the pace of the India innings proved relentless.

India's total of 418-5 was their highest score in ODI cricket while the West Indies conceded their highest total in ODI cricket.

Gautam Gambhir (67) and Suresh Raina (55) played the supporting roles to Sehwag before Virat Kohli issued a final flourish with 23 not out off 11 balls.

West Indies are now faced with a gargantuan task if they want to level the series and take it to a decider on Sunday in Chennai.