Yuvraj could still play in the Test series in South Africa

Yuvraj, who tore a ligament in his left knee during training last week, will be replaced by Dinesh Karthik. But Yuvraj could still play in the Test series.

The selectors resisted making wholesale changes after the team's elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy.

But spinner Anil Kumble and left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan replaced Ramesh Powar and RP Singh to add experience.

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The return of Kumble, who is India's most successful one-day bowler with 326 wickets in 262 appearances, should go some way to placating supporters who felt let down by performances in the Champions Trophy.

And Zaheer has earned another chance after a prolific wicket-taking summer in English county cricket for Worcestershire.

"Zaheer has improved a lot, he is hungry for success and back in form," said chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar

Kumble last played a one-dayer for India in August 2005

India only have a few days to regroup before setting off on tour, with their first game against South Africa A scheduled for 16 November.

And they had to endure a damning verdict from the media following Sunday's defeat by Australia, which ended their hopes of winning the Champions Trophy on home soil.

"In case the exit door of the Champions Trophy had a 'mettle' detector, the Indians would have walked through without a blip," was the view of the Daily Express newspaper.

"Oh, woe India - that Kangaroo kick again" was the headline in the Times of India, which also echoed the team's defeat by Australia in the final of the 2003 World Cup.

Former skipper Ajit Wadekar blamed coach Greg Chappell for experimenting too much with the batting order, creating what he called a "discomfort zone".

Former opener Kris Srikkanth said: "The batting has been failing for too long.

"The top order batsmen have to regain their consistency if India are to make an impact in the World Cup."

India squad: R Dravid (capt), S Tendulkar, W Jaffer, M Kaif, S Raina, D Mongia, D Karthik, M Patel, S Sreesanth, I Pathan, Z Khan, M Dhoni, H Singh, A Kumble, A Agarkar, Y Singh.