India vs England: Kohli, Hardik, Ishant return to Test squad
India's regular captain Virat Kohli is set to led the side in the upcoming Test series against England. Kohli, who returned from Australia on paternity leave after the first Test, was named in India's 18-member squad on Tuesday. Notably, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and fast bowler Ishant Sharma are among the notable inclusions in the side. Here is more on the same.
A few days after losing his father, Pandya makes India's squad for the first two Tests. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel has also received a maiden Test call-up to strengthen the spin department. The likes of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar, who headlined the Brisbane Test, retain their place. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin have been cleared to play after recovering from respective injuries.
Fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja couldn't make it to the squad as they continue to recover from injuries. The three senior players sustained a calf muscle injury, fracture (arm), and thumb dislocation respectively. Meanwhile, young Prithvi Shaw, who was slammed for his poor technique Down Under, has been dropped. Left-arm seamer T Natarajan also couldn't find a spot.
The selectors have also named four stand-byes, who will serve as replacements. These are KS Bharat, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Rahul Chahar. Also, five net bowlers Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Warrier, K Gowtham and Saurabh Kumar will accompany the squad.
The squad was finalized on Tuesday by the new Indian selection committee led by former India fast bowler Chetan Sharma. He was joined by four other selectors, Sunil Joshi, Abey Kuruvilla, Debashish Mohanty, and Harvinder Singh. Notably, Indian captain Kohli also attended the selection meeting that was held hours after India's historic win in the Gabba Test.
India's squad for the first two Tests: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel
