TIL Desk Sports/ Gautam Gambhir retained his spot in the Indian team while KL Rahul failed to make the cut for the upcoming Test series against England. Injuries have hit the top order as the Indian line-up will miss the touch of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. Ishant Sharma, too, has been included in the squad to boost the pace attack against a strong looking English batting order.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya was selected ahead of the crucial Test series which would give him an opportunity to prove his mettle as a Test player. The team will be led by Virat Kohli with Ajinkya Rahane once again named his deputy. Cheteshwar Pujara was once again trusted to play his role at number three. Wriddhiman Saha will be the specialist wicket-keeper.
Gambhir, who was named as Rahul’s replacement in the New Zealand series, should be happy to get back with the national team after. The battle for the opening spot ended Shikhar Dhawan’s stay in the team as the selectors axed him from the team after a poor run of form.
India Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jayant Yadav.