Both Yuvraj and Harbhajan Singh are under pressure to carry on performing at a high level

India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh have been included for the first two Test matches in the upcoming four-Test series against England.

Murali Vijay is also set to make a return into the Test squad, while Ajinkya Rahane is set to make his Test debut during the first Test on November 15 in Ahmedabad.

However, flamboyant batsman Suresh Raina failed to make the cut.

Yuvraj Singh has been chosen for his outstanding form over the past month after fully recovering from a rare form of germ cell cancer, while Harbhajan Singh’s experience is expected to come in handy.

The national selectors believe that Vijay and Rahane will benefit at coming lower down the order instead of opening the batting.

Sandeep Patil, head of the national selection panel, said: “We have selected three openers, not four, Ajinkya Rahane has been picked as a middle-order batsman. We have tried to provide the captain and the team management with a backup option for all departments. We have an extra spinner, top-order batsman, middle-order batsman and pacer.”

Harbhajan Singh really made a case for himself after picking up 4 wickets for 12 runs against England in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20.

When asked if there were any long-term aims for the national team, Patil said: “No, we’re going match by match and series by series. Every match is going to be important and we want the Indian team to do well in each of those matches. Let’s not talk about the season ahead of us but this series against England that is coming up.”

The only issue remaining is whether veteran pace bowler Zaheer Khan will be fit in time for the first Test after picking up some soreness in his groin region during Mumbai’s game against Railways in the Ranji Trophy.