Young Tamil Nadu off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was on Tuesday rewarded for his consistent performance in domestic cricket with a berth in India’s 15-member ODI squad for the first two matches against South Africa later this month.

The 23-year-old Ashwin, who is also a useful batsman lower down the order, was the only new face in the squad which will miss the services of prolific opener Gautam Gambhir because of a groin injury.

Lanky Baroda all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, who hit a double century in West Zone’s record run chase in Duleep Trophy final, and Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar forced their way back into the squad announced by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan after a selection committee meeting here.

Seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has made himself unavailable to attend his sister’s wedding while dashing batsman Yuvraj Singh was also not considered as he has not recovered from a wrist injury.

“Harbhajan Singh has declared himself not available for the first two ODIs due to personal reasons. Gautam Gambhir is not available for the ODI series due to groin injury,” a BCCI release said.

The selection of Ashwin was very much on the cards after Harbhajan had made himself unavailable. The Tamil Nadu spinner has so far captured 103 wickets in 28 first class matches for an average of 29.43.

As a batsman, Ashwin has scored two centuries and six half-centuries in his aggregate of 1085 runs which explains his utility in the shorter format of the game.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who featured in India’s current Test squad, was not picked in the squad to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been banned for one year from playing in the Indian Premier League, has been retained in the team along with Uttar Pradesh paceman Sudeep Tyagi.

Bad weather brought brief respite to South Africa as India pressed for a series-levelling victory in the second and final cricket Test on Wednesday.

The tourists, trailing by 347 runs on the first innings, lost three key wickets on the rain-curtailed fourth day to stutter to 115-3 in their second knock by stumps at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Just 34.1 overs were sent down during the day as a wet outfield caused by overnight rain delayed the start by 90 minutes and overcast conditions interrupted play regularly.

In the brief period of action, leg-spinner Amit Mishra sent back skipper Graeme Smith (20) and Jacques Kallis (20), and Harbhajan Singh dismissed Alviro Petersen.

Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 49 and Ashwell Prince had yet to score when the umpires finally called off play for the day.

India, which lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and six runs, will hope for a clear day on Thursday as they attempt to draw the series and retain their number one Test ranking.

The second-ranked South Africa will take over from India if the match ends in a draw, giving the Proteas a 1-0 series win.

South Africa still trail by 232 runs with seven wickets in hand.

India declared their first innings on a mammoth 643-6, built on centuries by Virender Sehwag (165), Venkatsai Laxman (143 not out), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (132 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (106).

Smith and Petersen played with caution after resuming at the overnight total of 6-0, when Mishra was brought into attack in the 13th over.

Mishra struck off his first delivery, trapping Smith in front of the wicket to cap a miserable outing for the South African skipper in the series. Smith scored just 30 runs in three innings.

Off-spinner Harbhajan gave India the breakthrough in the post-lunch session when he got rid of first-innings centurion Petersen (21) in his second over after the break.

The debutant opener was foxed by a delivery that found the inside edge of his bat and popped up to short-leg where Subramaniam Badrinath took a head-high catch on second attempt.