India fast bowler R Vinay Kumar has been retained as Karnataka captain for their Ranji Trophy 2013-14 season opening game against Jharkhand from November 7 in Mysore.
Vinay, who led the team last year, will once again shoulder the responsibility as he takes charge of a young team.
Unlike last year, Vinay would be available throughout the tournament. In October 2012, he was a part of the India A squad which faced England.
Karnataka are in Group A with Jharkhand, Gujarat, Vidarbha, Odisha, Haryana, Punjab, Mumbai and Delhi. Karnataka selectors have announced a 15-man squad which also includes India discard Abhimanyu Mithun.
Batsmen Mayank Agarwal and R Samarth were picked in the side for their consistent performance. Agarwal was blooded in place of the injured Robin Uthappa, who is nursing a tender hamstring and right-handed Samarth was picked up in place of left-handed Amit Verma.
Left-arm seamer S Arvind returns after recovering from injury. The selectors expect a lot from him as also last season's debutant H S Sharath, who has been in fine form in the season leading up to the Ranji Trophy.
Left-arm spinner Abrar Kazi joins K P Appanna to complete the bowling line-up led by Vinay Kumar.
Squad: R Vinay Kumar (capt), Lokesh Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Kunal Kapoor, Manish Pandey, Stuart Binny, CM Gautham (vice-capt & wicketkeeper), Ganesh Sathish, Abhimanyu Mithun, H S Sharath, K P Appanna, S Arvind, Abrar Kazi, Karun Nair, R Samarth; Physio: Shravan; Trainer: Nagendra Prasad; Video Analyst: Santosh; Manager (Logistics): K Narayana.
