The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) men's selection committee announced the 17-member Test squad for the remainder of Test series against England.
As reported earlier by Sports Tak, Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for the Test series due to personal reasons. Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul have been added to the Test squad but their participation will be subject to fitness clearance from the board’s medical team.
“The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Siraj returns, Akash gets his maiden call-up
Mohammed Siraj has returned to the Test squad whereas Akash Deep earned his maiden Test call-up replacing Avesh Khan. Also, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar has been dropped from the Test series. He was added to the squad along with Sarfaraz Khan and Washington Sundar when Rahul and Jadeja were ruled out of the Visakhapatnam Test after sustaining injuries in Hyderabad.
Unfit Iyer ruled out
Shreyas Iyer will not be a part of the Test series. The BCCI did not reveal a reason behind Iyer’s absence. However, it was earlier reported that he sustained a groin injury and back spasm during the second Test.
Akash Deep's numbers
Akash who picked up 13 wickets in the three-match series for India A against England Lions replaced Avesh who is yet to make his Test debut. The 27-year-old Bihar-born pacer who plays for Bengal has 103 wickets from 29 first-class games at an average of 23.18. He has four five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.
Rivalry to resume next week
After a 106-run in Vizag helped Rohit Sharma-led India level series 1-1, the third Test is scheduled to be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot starting February 15. The Indian team is expected to assemble in Rajkot on February 11.
India's Test squad versus England: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul*, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
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