India's leading bowler, Anil Kumble, has opted out of next month's two-match test series against New Zealand for personal reasons and was not included in the 16-man squad named last night.
But Kumble, a legspinner and India's most successful current bowler with 349 wickets in 76 tests, will be available forthe seven-game one-day series.
Batting star Sachin Tendulkar and left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan, who had missed the recent ODI series against the West Indies, have been declared fit. Tendulkar had a hamstring injury and Zaheer was resting a troublesome knee. The ODI squad will be picked in mid-December.
