Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has been dropped from the Irani Cup, more or less signaling the end of a sparkling career.

Young guns Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma, who had a disappointing ODI series in Sri Lanka last month were also dropped.

However, Rahul Dravid, who too has been struggling for form in the longer version of the game finds himself in the Rest of India squad as does Saachin Tendulkar, who seems to have recoeverd from his elbow injury, which forced him out of the ODI series against the Lankans.

Test skipper Anil Kumble has been chosen to lead Rest of India against Delhi. Test discards Mohammad Kaif and Wasim Jaffer have been included in the side with Pragyan Ojha and Ashok Dinda also blooded in.

Parthiv Patel has been drafted into the team as back up for MS Dhoni, who is certain to be in the playing XI, unless there are some injury concerns.

Paceman Sreesanth, who missed the Asia Cup and the series in Sri Lanka because of injury, was also absent from the squad for the five-day match which starts on September 24.

The Irani Trophy will serve as the basis for selection for India's series against Australia.

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah previously indicated that all the probables for the Test series against Australia would feature in the game.

However, the term of the present set of selectors ends on September 27 and Ganguly could yet make the team for the series should the new set of selectors favour him.
 

Rest of India Squad: Anil Kumble (Captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Wasim Jaffar, M S Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, R P Singh, Parthiv Patel, Ashok Dinda.