Picture : BCCI/ Twitter
After missing out the last three Tests in Australia due to paternity leave superstar Virat Kohli returns to lead the 18-member squad for the England home series with the new selection panel led by Chetan Sharma picking the Indian squad for the first two Tests in a virtual meeting .
Returning to side along with Virat is India’s leader of the pace attack Ishant Sharma, who returned to full fitness and was part of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 playing for Delhi. Ishant Has played 97 Tests and has teken 297 wickets so far. The four Tests against England will allow him to reach personal milestones .
All- rounder Hardik Pandya, who was not part of the Test squad in Australia finds a place in the squad .
Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur retained their places . However , the find of the series T Natarajan, who made his debut in the fourth Test and also took three wickets, misses out.
Ajinkya Rahane who did a fabulous job leading side to 2-1 win in Test series against Australia remains the vice- captain. Kuldeep Yadav too keeps his place despite not playing any Tests in Australia . Prithvi Shaw who looked completely out of sorts hasd been dropped.
TEAM – Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya (VC), KL Rahul, Hardik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2021
