KL Rahul, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, and Manish Pandey, who is part of the Indian team for the One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, haven't been named in Karnataka's Ranji Trophy squad for the first two games of the 2016-17 season. The champions of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons have three uncapped players - Arjun Hoysala, Mir Kaunain Abbas and Pavan Deshpande, in their 16-man squad announced.
Left-handed batsman Hoysala, who'll turn 27 on October 18, has registered a few big scores in the age-group levels and division cricket and was among the top-ten run-getters in the recently-concluded Karnataka Premier League. Abbas, a 26-year-old right-handed batsman, is known for his hard-hitting abilities. Deshpande, 27, is a left-handed batsman who also bowls off-spin and he has featured in one Twenty20 game for Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali competition in March 2015.
Vinay Kumar, the two-time Ranji Trophy-winning captain, will lead the side again while Karun Nair, who is currently with the Indian Test squad, has been named Vinay's deputy and is expected to join the team ahead of their opening clash against Jharkhand in Greater Noida starting on October 13.
There is no place for HS Sharath in the pace attack which has the regulars Vinay, S Aravind, Abhimanyu Mithun. Ronit More is back in the Karnataka set-up, having represented Himachal Pradesh last season.
Left-arm spinner Abrar Kazi, who was reported for a suspect action and last played for Karnataka in February 2015, returns to the squad after missing an entire season. There is no place for J Suchith in the spin department, which has leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal and off-spinner K Gowtham, apart from Kazi.
Karnataka squad for first two matches: R Vinay Kumar (c), Karun Nair (vc), R Samarth, Robin Uthappa, Mayank Agarwal, CM Gautam (wk), Stuart Binny, Shreyas Gopal, S Arvind, Abhimanyu Mithun, Abrar Kazi, Mir Kaunain Abbas, Pavan Deshpande, Arjun Hoysala, K Gowtham, Ronit More.
Left-handed batsman Hoysala, who'll turn 27 on October 18, has registered a few big scores in the age-group levels and division cricket and was among the top-ten run-getters in the recently-concluded Karnataka Premier League. Abbas, a 26-year-old right-handed batsman, is known for his hard-hitting abilities. Deshpande, 27, is a left-handed batsman who also bowls off-spin and he has featured in one Twenty20 game for Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali competition in March 2015.
Vinay Kumar, the two-time Ranji Trophy-winning captain, will lead the side again while Karun Nair, who is currently with the Indian Test squad, has been named Vinay's deputy and is expected to join the team ahead of their opening clash against Jharkhand in Greater Noida starting on October 13.
There is no place for HS Sharath in the pace attack which has the regulars Vinay, S Aravind, Abhimanyu Mithun. Ronit More is back in the Karnataka set-up, having represented Himachal Pradesh last season.
Left-arm spinner Abrar Kazi, who was reported for a suspect action and last played for Karnataka in February 2015, returns to the squad after missing an entire season. There is no place for J Suchith in the spin department, which has leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal and off-spinner K Gowtham, apart from Kazi.
Karnataka squad for first two matches: R Vinay Kumar (c), Karun Nair (vc), R Samarth, Robin Uthappa, Mayank Agarwal, CM Gautam (wk), Stuart Binny, Shreyas Gopal, S Arvind, Abhimanyu Mithun, Abrar Kazi, Mir Kaunain Abbas, Pavan Deshpande, Arjun Hoysala, K Gowtham, Ronit More.
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