As anticipated, batting superstar Virat Kohli continues to be unavailable for the remaining three Tests of the ongoing India vs England series. The BCCI on Saturday officially confirmed that Kohli is missing the series due to personal reasons and that it fully respects the decision.
“Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision,” BCCI said in an official statement on Saturday morning.
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Among the major developments is the return of the injured duo of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul but there availability is subject to fitness clearance.
“The participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team,” the statement read.
Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, after a string of low scores, has been dropped.
Additionally, India have given maiden call-up to Akash Deep who replaces uncapped allrounder Saurabh Kumar who was added to the squad for the 2nd Test in Vizag.
Sarafaraz Khan, who along with Saurabh was given a maiden India call-up, though has kept his place even though he didn’t make it to the playing XI for the 2nd Test.
India squad for three Tests against 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, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
England won the first test in Hyderabad by 28 runs as India won the second in Visakhapatnam by 106 runs to level the five-match series 1-1. The third test will be played in Rajkot from Feb. 15.
Team India, which is on a short break, has been expected to assemble in Rajkot on February 11 with training likely to resume the following day.
The touring England team had head back to their pre-series base, Abu Dhabi, for a much-needed break during which Ben Stokes and Co. will also indulge in some golf before returning to India in time for the third Test in Rajkot, and will return on February 10.
The fourth Test is set to start from February 23 in Ranchi, followed by the fifth and last match from March 7 in Dharamsala.
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