Sourav Ganguly [ Images ] has been included in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia [ Images ].

The former India [ Images ] captain, left out of the Rest of India squad for last week's Irani Trophy match, retained his place in the 15-man squad, announced by the new selection committee, under the chairmanship of Krishnamachari Srikanth, on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu's Subramaniam Badrinath [ Images ] was also included, in place of Rohit Sharma [ Images ], who was dropped without a single opportunity in the three-Test series in Sri Lanka [ Images ] last month.

There was a surprise call up for Haryana leg spinner Amit Mishra [ Images ], who edged out left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha [ Images ].

Mishra last played international cricket nearly five years back, when he featured in a triangular against Bangladesh and South Africa [ Images ] in Dhaka in April 2003.

Munaf Patel [ Images ] also kept his place in the Test squad after an impressive showing for Rest of India in the Irani Trophy tie against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi [ Images ]. Rudra Pratap Singh is the fourth seamer in the squad along with Zaheer Khan [ Images ] and Ishant Sharma [ Images ].

Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] is back in the squad after opting out of the Test series in Sri Lanka. He is the lone wicketkeeper in the team as his replacements, Parthiv Patel [ Images ] and Dinesh Karthik [ Images ], were not retained.

India play Australia in a four-Test series, starting in Bangalore on October 9. The second Test will be played in Mohali from October 17-21.

Squad for first two Tests:

Anil Kumble [ Images ] (captain), Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ], Rahul Dravid [ Images ], VVS Laxman [ Images ], M S Dhoni (w/k), Virender Sehwag [ Images ], Gautam Gambhir [ Images ], Harbhajan Singh [ Images ], Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Sourav Ganguly, Subramaniam Badrinath, Munaf Patel, R P Singh.