New Delhi: Chetan Sharma-headed selection panel on Saturday named Rohit Sharma as Indian cricket team's full-time Test captain ahead of two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. India is slated to lock horns with Sri Lanka in a Test series, starting from March 4 to 12.
"Rohit was a clear choice for us as a Test captain, no other names were discussed," Chairman of BCCI's Senior Selection Committee, Chetan Sharma said during the virtual press conference.
The selection panel also made some shocking changes to India's Test squad as senior struggling players Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha were dropped from the Test team. Also, senior pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed as T20 & Test vice-captain for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.
Talking about Rohit's elevation, the star opener was named team India's white-ball skipper last year and after today's major announcement, he now leads the national team across all three (T20, ODI, Test) formats.
Earlier, BCCI had picked Rohit as vice-captain for Test series against South Africa, making him the frontrunner for the post after Virat Kohli decided to step down as Test captain following India's heartbreaking 2-1 series loss in the rainbow nation.
Team India's Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas, Hanuma Vihari, Gill, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, Ashwin (subject to fitness), Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Shami, Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Sourabh Kumar
Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant rested for Ind vs SL T20I Series
Apart from Test squad, Chief selector Sharma also revealed India's T20 squad for their upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. India will host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series.
Return of Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to the fold for limited-overs series was one of the big announcements today. Sanju Samson, the young wicket-keeper batter has replaced Rishabh Pant in Indian squad.
"Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested for the T20i series against Sri Lanka. Shardul Thakur rested for both Test and T20i series against Sri Lanka," Chetan Sharma was quoted as saying by ANI.
India's T20I squad for SL series: Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar, Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan.