PTI
 
Chennai, May 26: Veteran defender Dilip Tirkey was on Thursday handed back the captaincy while three experienced midfielders were recalled to the Indian hockey team for next month's Azlan Shah tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

Tirkey regained the captaincy from Gagan Ajit Singh who led India in the Champions Trophy and a four-nation tournament in Germany -- the two last international outings of the team.

Tirkey would remain at the helm till the World Cup in Germany later this year.

The selectors made wholesale changes in the midfield, bringing back Viren Rasquinha, V S Vinay and Bimal Lakra. Little known Ajmer Singh was also included to bolster the midfield.

Forwards Deepak Thakur and Prabhjot Singh were dropped as they had not been playing well in the last 2-3 tournaments, Indian Hockey Federation President KPS Gill said while announcing the team for the June 18 to 25 nament.

Among the defenders, the selectors brought back Kanwalpreet Singh.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Adrian D'Souza, Bharat Kumar Chetri Defenders: Dilip Tirkey (cap), Kanwalpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh Midfielders: V S Vinaya, Bikram Pillay, Prabodh Tirkey, Bimal Lakra, Viren Rasquinha, Ajmer Singh, Forwards: Arjun Halappa, Hariprasad, Tejbir Singh, Tushar Khandekar, Shivender Singh, Rajpal Singh, Gagan Ajit Singh.

Chief coach: Vasudevan Baskaran Coach: Harendra Singh Physio: Ravi Kanakamedala.