India v England: Virender Sehwag dropped for ODIs

India have dropped batsman Virender Sehwag for the first three one-day internationals against England.

India have come under criticism for recent poor form and for losing 2-1 to rivals Pakistan in their ODI series.

Gautam Gambhir has been retained, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni continues as captain despite some suggestions in the Indian media he should be replaced.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 206 not out against England in the Test series, has been added to the squad.

England recorded a first Test series win in India in 27 years in December and India immediately came under pressure, increasing with the one-day series defeat to Pakistan.

Sehwag averaged 21.70 with the bat in one-day international cricket in 2012, compared to a career ODI batting average of 35.05 from 251 games. His 2012 average was his lowest for ODIs in a calendar year since 2000.

The 34-year old was left out of Sunday's third and final clash against Pakistan and has now been left out by the Indian selectors for the matches against England in Rajkot, Kochi and Ranchi.

Ravinchandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra remain as the frontline spinners, with veteran Harbhajan Singh again missing out. Shami Ahmed is also included after making his debut against Pakistan on Sunday.

Meanwhile, England fell to an emphatic 53-run defeat against India A in Delhi, in the first of two warm-up matches before their five-game one-day series against India begins on Friday.

India squad for first three ODIs v England: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Cheteshwar Pujara, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravinchandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shami Ahmed, Amit Mishra.

England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler (wk), Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes .