As reported, Virat Kohli remains unavailable for the final three matches of the ongoing five-Test series against England due to personal reasons. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have returned to the squad and will play at Rajkot subject to fitness clearance. Shreyas Iyer has been dropped, for the BCCI press release on Saturday didn’t mention any fitness issues with the middle-order batter. And, as expected, Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t been rested.
The 17-member squad, unusually ‘bloated’ for a home series due to fitness concerns, has a new face in Bengal seamer Akash Deep. The latter has been rewarded for his performance against the England Lions.
With regards to Kohli’s absence, the BCCI said: “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.” The former India captain had joined the team in Hyderabad ahead of the first Test before pulling out of the first two matches. He has extended his leave of absence.
Rahul and Jadeja missed the second Test in Vizag due to quadriceps pain and hamstring issues respectively. They have undergone rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. “The participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team,” stated the BCCI release. The Indian team is expected to assemble in Rajkot on Monday, as the Test match starts on February 15.
News on Iyer-
🚨Poor form and now injury, Shreyas Iyer likely to miss remaining Tests vs England.@SportsNaresh @CricSubhayan #ShreyasIyer #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/wO2dEUz5qF
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) February 10, 2024
As far as Iyer is concerned, reports suggested that he has experienced back spasms, although the 29-year-old looked fighting fit as he took a blinder to dismiss Zak Crawley and effected a brilliant run-out to account for Ben Stokes in Vizag. The BCCI release hasn’t mentioned any injury issues with him. So, following scores of 35, 13, 27 and 29 in the first two Tests, and a Test average of 17 over the past 12 months, Iyer has been dropped.
Akash Deep’s selection in place of Avesh Khan has come on the heels of his two four-fers against the England Lions.
Squad: 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
**The participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.
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