Murali Vijay Back In Squad For Sri Lanka Test Series:- India Test opener Murali Vijay has been recalled to India’s squad for the first two Test matches against Sri Lanka. The test series is scheduled to start from November 16.
Due to the wrist injury, Vijay missed away the Sri Lanka tour and having fully recovered the national selectors named Vijay in the Test squad. Tamil Nadu skipper Abhinav Mukund has been replaced by Vijay, and the rest of the Test squad remains the same. Along with Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, premier spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja continue to be the first choice spinners
There were also reports that the workload of skipper Virat Kohli was being monitored by the national selectors and that he might be rested. However, Kohli will continue to lead the side.
“We are monitoring the workload of the players, rotational policy will also apply to the captain, but he is available for the Test series. We will monitor Kohli’s workload after the Tests (vs Sri Lanka),” said chief selector MSK Prasad.
Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma with Hardik Pandya being the preferred all-rounder, are included in the pace department. Wriddhiman Saha is expected to don the gloves, while Ajinkya Rahane continues to be the vice-captain in Tests.
Vijay was forced to sit out of the three Tests matches in Sri Lanka after he injured his right wrist. He played his last Test match in March.
Vijay represented Tamil Nadu in one Ranji Trophy match, having recovered, and also played for India Green in the Duleep Trophy. R Ashwin, his Tamil Nadu team mate too did not play much international cricket after he was overlooked for the India ODIs. However, the off-spinner took 20 wickets and scored 214 runs and had a successful stint in England as representing Worcestershire.
Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, like Ashwin, too had a brief stint with Nottinghamshire. But, he could garner just 333 runs in 12 innings. As India persisted with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, Ashwin’s spin partner Ravindra Jadeja too was overlooked for the ODIs.
The all-rounder, Jadeja turning out for Saurashtra slammed a brilliant 201 and took seven wickets in a Ranji Trophy match, although he did not have a county stint.
The first test, starting November 16, will be hosted by the iconic Eden Gardens, and the other two Tests will be played in Nagpur (November 24-28) and New Delhi (December 2-6). Sri Lanka will also play three ODIs and three T20Is, after the Test series.
India Test squad: Virat Kohli ©, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (w), Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Murali Vijay, Hardik Pandya.
SUPRAJA
