Mumbai: Indian selectors gathered in Mumbai to select the Test team for the upcoming Test series against England starting on November 9. Gautam Gambhir maintained his spot in the squad as an opener. Hardik Pandya has been named in the team as Rohit Sharma’s replacement who is encountering an injury.
Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma also made a comeback after recovering from Chikungunya in the 15-member Indian squad announced on Wednesday.
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While KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were left out due to fitness related issues, batsman Rohit Sharma was also out forced out by a thigh injury which might require surgery.
Karun Nair is the reserve batsman and Jayant Yadav is the fourth spinner in the squad after Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Amit Mishra. The pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav retained their places in the side. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Murali Vijay, on the other hand, were automatic inclusions.
The chairman said Bhuvneshwar Kumar has recovered from his back injury but the selection committee wants the UP seamer to at least play a Ranji game and prove his match fitness. Similar was the case of KL Rahul (hamstring) and Shikhar Dhawan (finger fracture).
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As far as Rohit was concerned, Prasad said, “Unfortunately we have all seen on TV that Rohit Sharma is badly injured. And there is a scope for surgical intervention, there is a chance (that) he is going to be assessed in England. In case it is required he might have to undergo a surgery.”
India Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jayant Yadav