Huge surprises in Indian Test sqaud: Pandya gets maiden call-up; Rohit unfit

Huge surprises in Indian Test sqaud: Pandya gets maiden call-up; Rohit unfit

 

New Delhi: BCCI has announced the Test sqaud for the first two Tests against England. In a major surpirse, T20 specialist Hardik Pandya has been drafted into the Test squad for the first time and off spinning all rounder Jayant Yadav who made his debut in the last ODI agianst New Zealand has retained his place and veteran pacer Ishant Sharma has made a comeback into the test side.

Rohit Sharma, who suffered a hamstring injury during the last ODI at Vizag has been declared unfit. Veteran Opener Gautam Gambhir has been rewarded for his consitance performances in the ongoing Ranji trohpy and in all probability will open the innings with Murali Vijay in first Test match as the other two openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have not recovered from their injuries.

Ishant Sharma has made a comeback in the longer format after a lay off due to Chikunguniya. Karnataka middle order batsman Karun Nair has also retained his place in the side. He is the reserve batsman and Jayant Yadav is the fourth spinner in the squad after Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra.

The pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have retained their places in the side. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay, on the other hand, were automatic inclusions.

The selection committee chaired by MSK Prasad fielded maximum queries regarding Pandya's inclusion and he stated that his "all-round abilities" with a sea change in attitude after working under India A coach Rahul Dravid went in his favour.

"If you look at Hardik Pandya, his pace has increased. His overall personality has mellowed down. He did extremely well in the ODI series and also during the A tour Down Under," Prasad told the mediapersons.

Prasad admitted that Pandya is one of the few seamer all-rounders that India has at the moment.

"We all have been trying to find an all-rounder after Kapil Dev. In case we play three spinners, he can be the second seamer and also can bat," Prasad reasoned.

Asked about Pandya's attitude, Prasad said: "We all know he is a bit hyper. But he has worked hard under Rahul Dravid and under chief coach Anil Kumble."

About Karun, who was included as a standby in the final Test at Indore, Prasad said: "We have been grooming him (Karun Nair) for the last one or two years."

The chairman said Bhuvneshwar Kumar has recovered from his back injury but the selection committee wants the UP seamer to at least play a Ranji game and prove his match fitness. Ditto for KL Rahul (hamstring) and Shikhar Dhawan (finger fracture).

As far as Rohit is concerned, Prasad said: "Rohit has an injury. It could take anything between 6-8 weeks and he might have to go for a surgery."

The Virat Kohli lead team India will take on England in a five match Test series which begins on Novemeber 9 at Rajkot.

Indian sqaud: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Murali vijay, G Gambhir, C Pujara, Karun Nair, W Saha, R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya, R Jadeja, J Yadav, I Sharma, Amit Mishra, U Yadav, M Shami