3 from region make it to Team India

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

A day after the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president took over as BCCI president, there came some more good cricketing news for the region. As many as three youngsters – Mandeep Singh from Punjab and Jayant Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal from Haryana – received their maiden call-up to the limited-overs Indian team that will tour Zimbabwe next month.

For Mandeep, a middle-order batsman from Jalandhar, the call has come at the “right time”. The Punjab batsman has been a consistent performer in first class cricket for the last few years.

“I had an inkling that I could be selected as some of the senior players were to be rested for this tour. Besides, I had a good first class season, so the call has come at the right time,” said the Jalandhar boy.

Chahal, the Haryana leg-spinner, seems to have made the cut on the basis of his performance in the IPL this season. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he has been the highest wicket-taker until the league stage, picking up 19 wickets in 11 matches. Yadav, an off-spinner who’s quite handy with the bat as well, has been rewarded for his fine showing in domestic cricket.