Chawla replaces Kartik for Challenger Trophy

Piyush Chawla, the legspinner, has been drafted into the India Green team for the Challenger Trophy in place of Murali Kartik.

"Murali Kartik has been given a rest," Dilip Vengsarkar, the chairman of the selection panel, told PTI. Kartik made his comeback to the national team during the recent ODI series against Australia.

Kartik picked up eight wickets in four matches, including six in the final ODI in Mumbai, where he also contributed 21 in a match-winning unbroken 52-run stand for the ninth wicket.

Chawla was named in the original squad for the ODIs against Australia, but missed out due to an ankle injury that he suffered during the World Twenty20. Chawla was a regular in the playing XI during the seven-match ODI series in England, taking six wickets at an unimpressive average of 52.33 but showed excellent control.

The tournament, to be held in Ahmedabad, begins on October 25, without big names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan, who have been given a rest. India Green, led by Parthiv Patel, will play their matches on October 26 and 27, with the final scheduled for the 28th.