Karthik returns to Test squad as injured Saha's replacement

In 23 Tests for India, he has scored 1000 runs with a hundred and seven half-centuries.

Karthik had last played a Test match way back in 2010 against Bangladesh but has had a prolific first-class record with 27 hundreds and over 9000 runs.

Dinesh Karthik will replace the Kolkata born stumper and will have a shot at Test redemption.

MSK Prasad and Co are looking at the England tour, where Karthik could make the cut in the longest format also.

Karthik was a surprise success when he played Test cricket in England in 2007. He had three half-centuries -- 60 at Lord's, 77 at Nottingham and 91 at the Oval.

Wriddhiman Saha has been declared unfit after picking up a thumb injury.

This is also India’s first Test match in nearly four months time.

India will be without regular skipper Virat Kohli who has been rested in the wake of crucial England tour.

Ajinkya Rahane will lead the Indian side against Asghar Stankazai’s men.

But, just before the Test match gets underway, the hosts have dealt with a massive blow

India will lock horns with Afghanistan in one-off Test match which begins on June 14 in Bengaluru.

It will mark Afghanistan’s entry in the red-ball cricket after they were given the Test nation status by the ICC.