Chauhan, Khoda summoned

of the selection committee Ramakant Desai said the replacements were made after consulting captain Sachin Tendulkar and manager Prof Ratnakar Shetty over the telephone yesterday.

Syed Saba Karim, the wicketkeeper doing duty in Sri Lanka presently and Hyderabad off-spinner, Noel David, will return after the Asia Cup final.

Desai had no explanations as to why Mongia and Kambli were dropped for the Asia Cup.

Their exclusion caused such a hue and cry that it was a forgone conclusion that they would be picked for the two Tests and three One-Dayers.

Chauhan, who makes a comeback into the side after a three-year gap, replaces David, who proved “unsatisfactory”.

Between Khoda and VVS Laxman the former got the nod as “the Hyderabad player had been given his chance and did not prove his calibre,” said Desai. “Khoda never played in the Independence Cup while Laxman has played in Tests in the West Indies and could get a good score only once,” explained Desai.

The choice of Chauhan was made as the team management wanted a replacement for David, Desai said.

The four players chosen today would assemble in Chennai tomorrow before flying to Colombo the following morning in time for the three-day match scheduled before the August 2-6 first Test at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The second and final Test would be held from August 9-13 at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, also in Colombo, before the Indians engage the home team in the best-of-three One-Day International series to be played in the Sri Lankan capital on August 18, 21 and 23.

PEN PICS OF THE FOUR INDUCTEES

Mongia, Nayan Ramlal (Baroda): Born: Baroda, 19.12.1969. Right hand middle order batsman and wicket-keeper.

Fc debut: 1989-90. Test debut: v SL, Lucknow, 1993-94. 25 matches, 989 runs (avg 28.25), one 100 (HS: 152 v Aus, Delhi, 1996-97) & three 50s.

Dismissals: 65 (61 catches & 4 stumpings. Best: 8 dismissals (8 catches) in a match v SA at Durban, 1996-97 — the best performance by an Indian wicket-keeper in a Test match.

ODI debut: v SL, Rajkot, 1993-94, 74 matches, 661 runs (avg 20.65), HS: 69 v Pak, Sharjah, 1995-96. Dismissals: 84 (61 catches & 23 stumpings). Best: 5 dismissals in a match (3 ct/ 2 st) v NZ, Auckland, 1993-94 & v Pak, Toronto, 1996-97 — equals world record in ODI.

Chauhan, Rajesh Kumar (Madhya Pradesh). Born: Ranchi, 19.12.1966. Right hand tail-end bastman & right arm off-break bowler.

Fc debut: 1988-89. Test debut: v Eng, Calcutta, 1992-93. 15 matches, 65 runs (avg 8.12). HS: 15* v SL, Colombo, 1993-94. 34 wkts (avg 34.97) BB: 3-8 v SL, Ahmedabad, 1993-94. 8 catches. Toured Sri Lanka in 1993-94.

India has never lost a Test whenever he is in the team.

ODI debut: v SL, Colombo, 1993-94. 20 matches, 73 runs (avg 14.60), HS: 26* v SL, Jalandhar, 1993-94. 21 wkts (avg 34.00), BB: 3-29 v Pak. Sharjah, 1993-94. R/O: 4.25. 5 catches.

Kambli, Vinod Ganpat (Bombay). Born: Bombay, 18.1.1972. Left hand middle oder batsman and occasional right arm off-break bowler.

Fc debut: 1989-90. Test debut: v Eng, Calcutta, 1992-93. 17 matches, 1084 runs (avg 54.20) 100s four (HS: 227 v Zimbabwe, Delhi, 1992-93) & three 50s. 7 catches. Toured Sri Lanka in 1993-94.

ODI debut: v Pak, Sharjah, 1991-92. 79 matches, 2076 runs (avg 38.44), 100s two (106 v Zim, Kanpur, 1995-96) & 50’s twelve. 1 wkt (avg 7.00) R/O: 10.50. 12 catches.

Khoda, Gagan Kishanlal (Rajasthan). Born: Barmer, 24.10.1974.Right hand opening batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.

Fc debut: 1991-92.

Was selected for Independence Cup last season, but has not yet appeared in any Tests or One-dayers for India