The BCCI is likely to announce India’s squad for the remaining Tests against England in 24-48 hours, according to reports doing the rounds, and are set to make a crucial decision on Virat Kohli’s inclusion.
The board had initially announced India’s squad only for the first two Tests, including Kohli in the same only for the star batter to rule himself out shortly before the first Test got underway in Hyderabad due to “personal reasons”.
Neither the board nor Kohli himself has specified the exact reason behind the absence from the Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam Tests though AB de Villiers, a close friend of the ex-India captain, recently claimed that he is expecting a second child with wife Anushka Sharma. Rajat Patidar had been included as Kohli’s replacement and would go on to make his debut in the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
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The BCCI is also set to take a call on the participation of injured bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami. While Shami, who recently was honoured with the Arjuna Award, continues to recover from the ankle injury that has put him out of action since the ICC World Cup, Jadeja had suffered a hamstring injury in Hyderabad that subsequently ruled him out of the Vizag Test.
Both, however, are unlikely to play the remaining Tests which might prompt the selection committee to draft in their replacements in the squad. Also recovering from an injury is wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, who missed out on the second Test after complaining of pain in his right quadriceps.
The Rohit Sharma-led squad will then begin training in Rajkot, where they will arrive with the psychological boost after their victory in Visakhapatnam and will aim to take the lead for the first time in the series. According to News18 Cricketnext, the hosts will begin training in the home of the Saurashtra cricket team from 13 February, two days before the third Test gets underway.
The five-Test series is currently level at 1-1, with England having clawed back from a 190-run first innings deficit to win the series opener in Hyderabad by 28 runs in thrilling fashion. India, however, would bounce back in Visakhapatnam by inflicting a 106-run defeat on the Ben Stokes-led visitors. Both matches ended inside four days.
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Both teams will have plenty of time to ponder of their strategies and give their body some much-needed rest with the third Test set to take place in Rajkot more than a week from now on 15 February. The BCCI, however, will reportedly not take as much time to announce their squad for the next three Tests, which take place in Ranchi and Dharamsala after Rajkot with the final set scheduled to conclude on 11 March.
The England squad flew to Abu Dhabi, where they had trained before the India tour, after the conclusion of the second Test, and are set to travel to Rajkot on 12 February, three days before the start of the second Test. Members of the Indian team, on the other hand, are believed to have returned to their residences for some much-needed rest.