New Delhi: As part of a rotation policy, goalkeeper Bharat Chetri was on Thursday named captain while the controversial duo of Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh have been recalled to the Indian hockey team for the tour of Australia starting next month.
Veteran midfielder Ignace Tirkey has been appointed as Chetri's deputy.
The 27-year-old custodian, who has 114 International caps to his credit, will replace Rajpal as the skipper and will lead the country for the first time in his career.
PR Sreejesh, who shot to limelight with his super show in the final of the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy against Pakistan, is the other goalkeeper in the 22-member squad.
During the tour of Australia, which will conclude on November 5, India will play a four-nation nine-a-side International Super Series tournament and another International tournament featuring Pakistan and the home team.
The squad was announced after a selection trails at the SAI centre in Bangalore on Monday, which was attended by Hockey India selectors BP Govinda, Syed Ali, Thoiba Singh and AB Subbaiah besides government observer Dilip Tirkey.
Among notable inclusions, both Sandeep and Sardara, who were handed a two-year ban by HI for indiscipline only to be lifted later, have found a place in the squad.
Former captain Arjun Halappa, who missed the Asian Champions Trophy in China due to a groin problem, also returned to the team along with Tushar Khandker and Bharat Chikara, who have also recovered from injuries.
Rajpal will continue to lead the forward line which also has the young Yuvraj Walimiki who retained his place by virtue of his impressive performance in China, Sarvanjit Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi and Danish Mujtaba among others.
The selectors have also named five stand-by players in Nanak Singh (goalkeeper), Birendra Lakra (midfielder), Mandip Antil (forward), Chinglingsana (forward) and Roshan Minz (forward).
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