The national selectors, in their announcement of the India team for the initial two Tests against England, adhered to established names, introducing only wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel as the lone fresh inclusion.
Rohit Sharma will lead the 16-member squad, with Jasprit Bumrah serving as his deputy. Unfortunately, senior pacer Mohammed Shami did not make the cut due to ongoing recovery from an injury sustained during the ODI World Cup last year. Shami was also absent from the recent India squad that toured South Africa.
Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna's exclusion was due to a left quadricep injury sustained in a Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat. While pace bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur missed out, left-arm spinner Axar Patel made a anticipated return to the side.
The spotlight, however, was on the addition of Uttar Pradesh player Dhruv Jurel. The 22-year-old, part of the India A squad in matches against South Africa last December, showcased his prowess with a notable 69 in the second game at Benoni. His recent performance of 63 against Kerala in a Ranji Trophy match further bolstered his selection.
Jurel, who debuted in First-Class cricket last year against Vidarbha, has accumulated 790 runs in 15 matches, averaging 46, with a century and five fifties in domestic circuits.
Although KL Rahul is named for the wicketkeeper-batsman role, KS Bharat is expected to be the first choice. Rahul performed admirably in the Test matches against South Africa but might relinquish the role against England, given India's anticipated use of three spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, necessitating a specialist behind the stumps.
The first Test is scheduled for January 25 in Hyderabad, followed by the second match in Visakhapatnam on February 2.
India Test squad for the first two Tests against England: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Avesh Khan.
(With Agency Inputs)
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