Indian Cricket Team Inducts Fresh Faces: Know All About Them

India's squads for Zimbabwe and the West Indies tours have been announced and a few fresh faces have come into the frame. The likes of KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Faiz Fazal have been given a chance to prove their mettle in the limited-overs format while Shardul Thakur has been a welcome addition to India's inconsistent pace line-up in Tests.

Here is a look at what these players have done to get a call-up for their international debut:

KL Rahul - He has been in outstanding form for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 Indian Premier League. In 12 matches, the stylish right-hander has scored 386 runs - including four half-centuries - at an average and strike-rate of 55.14 and 147.89 respectively.

Rahul also made a timely 38 off 23 balls in the last league game against Delhi Daredevils to help RCB qualify for the play-offs. Once deemed as Test specialist, Rahul - with his strong performances - has put himself in the contention for a permanent spot in the ODI team, which has been struggling since the ICC World Cup 2015.

Mandeep Singh - He has been on the radar for a while now. The Punjab lad was the leading run-getter in Vijay Hazare Trophy last year, scoring 394 runs in seven games at an impressive average of 65.66, and at a strike-rate of 88.73.

Mandeep was also the second highest run-scorer in the 2015-16 Ranji season. In nine matches, he scored 498 runs with two hundreds and two fifties.

Yuzvendra Chahal - The leg-spinner from Royal Challengers Bangalore has been picked on account of some brilliant some performances in Indian Premier League.

He is currently the leading wicket-taker in 2016 IPL, with 19 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 17.05, and at a good economy rate of 7.87. Chahal was also the third highest wicket-taker in 2015 IPL, with 23 wickets in 15 matches.

Shardul Thakur - He has been knocking the selectors' door with strong showings for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, and finally got the nod ahead of the inconsistent Varun Aaron. In the 2014-15 Ranji season, he finished as the leading wicket-taker, alongside R Vinay Kumar, with 48 wickets in 10 matches at an outstanding average of 20.81.

In the 2015-16 season, he ended as the highest wicket-taker, with 41 wickets in 11 games. Thakur has picked up a total of nine five-fers in 37 Ranji matches so far.

Faiz Fazal - The 30-year old, who was a part of Rajasthan Royals for the first four IPL seasons, has been given a chance in this short but important tour. In last year's Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Vidarbha batsman made 312 runs in seven matches at an average of 52.00, and in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Fazal hit 205 runs in 9 matches at a strike-rate of 101.99.

His selection has sent out a strong message to all senior players to just focus on playing well and the rest will take care of itself.