Following India’s series levelling win in the second Test at Chennai, the hosts have announced the 17-member squad for the third and fourth test that is scheduled to happen between 24-28 February and 4-8 March at the newly built Sardar Patel Stadium, in Ahmedabad.
Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the team for last two tests features Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravi Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
The Indian cricket board further named five net bowlers- Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Warrier, Krishnappa Gowtham, Saurabh Kumar, and two additional standbys in KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar. BCCI further stated that Umesh Yadav will join the team at Ahmedabad after passing his fitness test. Yadav will replace Shardul Thakur in the squad. Thakur will be released for Vijay Hazare Trophy along with Abhimanyu Eashwaran, Priyank Panchal, and Shahbaz Nadeem. Ravindra Jadeja remains on sidelines due to thumb injury he sustained in Australia.
There are not any major changes in the well-rounded Indian squad that is heading towards the Motera Stadium for the second Day and Night Test in India. Before the selection, it was anticipated that the national selectors would select either Mohammed Shami or Umesh Yadav, for the remaining two matches. Both the fast bowlers got injured in Australia but now they have recovered from respective. They are well known for their sheer pace and ability to extract reverse swing in the Indian conditions.
BCCI has not disturbed the winning combination, while the English side is persisting with the rotation policy. Earlier this week, ECB also named a 17-men squad for the third test. They welcome Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood in the squad, while Moeen Ali returns back to England as part of rotation policy.
The Day and Night Test at Ahmedabad’s Motera Stadium is supposed to be an exciting contest with result having implication on both team’s fortunes in the World Test Champions. The hosts need at least 2-1 series win to book a place in the final, while England needs to win both test matches to qualify.