Fit-again Zaheer back for India

Zaheer made his Test debut against Bangladesh in November 2000

Zaheer Khan returns to India's squad for the first two Tests of the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka.

The 31-year-old left-arm seamer, who has 210 wickets in 65 Tests, has been out since June with shoulder trouble.

Temperamental fast bowler Sreesanth is also included, having been given a "final warning" after arguing with rival players during a domestic match.

Batsman Subramaniam Badrinath and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, both yet to make their Test debuts, are also named.

The first match in Ahmedabad, which starts on Monday, is followed by matches in Kanpur starting on 24 November and Mumbai on 2 December.

The squad for the third Test will be named nearer the time, the Indian board said.

Sreesanth, 26, has claimed 50 wickets but played the last of his 14 Tests 18 months ago. His progress has been hampered by on-field tantrums and heated exchanges.

The hugely experienced batting line-up remains, with veterans VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid retained alongside world record run-scorer Sachin Tendulkar.

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India squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Pragyan Ojha, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Subramaniam Badrinath.