Jamshedpur, Oct. 29: Middle-order batsman from Patna, Rajiv Kumar, has been retained captain of the Bihar Ranji team announced by BCA secretary B.N. Singh today. The team includes four new faces. Singh said the 15-member team is for the first two matches only.

According to him, the selectors will judge the performance of the team in the first two matches against Jammu & Kashmir in the city from November 9 and against Karnataka at Ranchi from November 20.

Headed by former state player Mihir Roy, the selection panel, including former India wicket keeper Syed Saba Karim, former Bihar opener Amikar Dayal and Chanchal Dutta Gupta, went through the performance of the probables in two trials matches before announcing the squad.

The selectors have chosen four newcomers — Moinak Sengupta, Shashi Bhushan Choubey and Shabbir Hussain and Anand Kumar.

While Sengupta, who has earlier donned the Bengal colours, was chosen for his experience and resolute batting in crunch situations.

Leg spinner Choubey was picked up for bowling a good line and length in the trial matches. Ranchi's Hussain has been selected on his batting merit, the selectors said.

The team has nine batsmen, three seamers and three spinners.