REVEALED! Here's why BCCI preferred to pick Rohit Sharma over in-form Gautam Gambhir

Rohit Sharm averages just 32 with 2 hundreds and 4 fifties to his name​ in 17 tests.

New Delhi: BCCI's 15-man team selection for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand saw fans outraged as Gautam Gambhir's name was missing from the roster despite impressive performances of over the period of last 6 months.

Rohit Sharma, who's record in test cricket is often criticized – in 17 tests, Rohit averages just 32 with 2 hundreds and 4 fifties to his name - was in contention of being dropped from the test team.

Considering Gambhir's form and experience, he was thought to be in pole position to grab a place in India's squad for the New Zealand tour but BCCI's decision to retain Rohit literally shocked everyone.

As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, here's what chief selector Sandeep Patil said on decision to not dump Rohit Sharma.

"Rohit is a fabulous player, immense talent he has got, but he hasn't got a longer run in Test cricket," chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil said after the selection meeting in Mumbai. "What we have seen with Rohit Sharma is, he has been picked for one Test and then rested an entire season and again picked. So the selection committee, along with coach and captain, have decided that whoever is be picked will be given a fair amount of chances."

The full 15-member squad is as follows:

India Test squad: Virat Kohli(Capt), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav