Star pacer Avesh Khan has been released from India's Test squad bound for five-match series against England. This announcement came right ahead of the first Test between India and England on January 25 as Avesh Khan has been released so that he can play for his Ranji trophy team Madhya Pradesh in their next fixture. Avesh was initially picked in India's 16-member Test squad for the five-match series against England.
Earlier, Rajat Patidar joined India's squad as Virat Kohli's replacement for the first two Tests against England.
Meanwhile, India lost the toss and put to bat first in their opening Test against England at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium in Hyderabad.
After losing the toss captain Rohit Sharma said," We would have batted as well. Looks dry. Whether we bowl or bat first, we have the skills and we got the guys to do the job. A good series, I am playing for the first time a five-match series. We have played in these conditions before. We know what to do, it's all about executing your skills. We've got three spinners and two seamers - Bumrah, Siraj, Axar, Jadeja and Ashwin. It was a tough one (to leave out Kuldeep Yadav) Axar has done well and bats really well in these conditions. Probably the reason we went with Axar."
Meanwhile, England skipper Ben Stokes, after the toss, said, “We are gonna have a bat. It's typical conditions in India. The preparation has been really good. We know the challenge, India is a successful side. We have Hartley making his debut, Rehan has played only one side, but they have a good leader in Leach. Woody is that X-factor bowler.”
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach.
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