In an eagerly awaited announcement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the latest developments regarding Team India’s lineup for the upcoming three Test matches against England. With the series finely poised at 1-1 after thrilling encounters, cricket enthusiasts are on the edge of their seats to witness the action-packed battles that lie ahead. BCCI Announces Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. For the first time in his 13-year Test career, Virat Kohli will be absent for an entire series.
Key highlights of the roster adjustments include:
Kohli’s Continued Absence: Virat Kohli, the talismanic leader of Team India, will continue to be unavailable for selection due to personal reasons. Kohli has been absent from the first two tests of the series, adding intrigue to the team dynamics.
Iyer’s Omission: Shreyas Iyer, who featured in the earlier stages of the Test series, has been omitted from the Indian Test team, reflecting the selectors’ strategic decisions as the series progresses.
Notable Inclusions and Comebacks: The squad sees the return of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, who are set to reinvigorate the team’s lineup after recovering from injuries sustained during the first Test in Hyderabad. Additionally, Bengal pacer Akash Deep earns a coveted spot in the India Test Squad for the first time, further diversifying the team’s bowling options.
Shifting Dynamics: Mohammed Siraj makes his comeback after a brief respite during the Vizag test, adding depth to the bowling attack. Meanwhile, Saurabh Kumar, who had replaced Jadeja in the Vizag test, finds himself excluded from the squad, signaling the selectors’ dynamic approach to team composition.
Despite a subpar performance with the bat, wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat retains his position in the squad. However, speculation is rife that Uttar Pradesh’s wicketkeeper, Dhruv Jurel, might find a place in the playing 11 for the Rajkot test.
The upcoming schedule for the remaining three tests is as follows:
3rd Test: Commencing from February 15th at Rajkot
4th Test: Starting on February 23rd at Ranchi
5th Test: Scheduled from March 7th at Dharamsala
Results:
1st test: England won by 28 Runs
2nd test: India won by 106 Runs
Series 1-1
With the series finely poised at 1-1, anticipation is high as cricket aficionados await the thrilling showdowns that lie ahead.
India’s Squad for the Final Three Tests:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Jasprit Bumrah (Vice-Captain), 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, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
