Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced the squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia. In a very interesting move, the selectors have retained the squad from the one-off Test against Bangladesh, and the likes of Hardik Pandya, Abhinav Mukund and Kuldeep Yadav are in the squad for the first two Test matches against Australia.
Interestingly, Amit Mishra, who has been playing as the third spinner for India from a very long time, hasn’t been picked and young Kuldeep Yadav, who was named as his replacement for the one-off Test against Australia after Mishra picked up an injury in the T20I series against England, has been retained. Kuldeep Yadav is a very skilful spinner and he was a star performer for his side in the domestic season 2016-17. His left-arm chinaman will add more variety in the bowling attack.
India and Australia will play the four Tests at in Pune, Ranchi, Bangalore and Dharamsala. Out of the four, only Bangalore has hosted a Test match previously while Dharamsala, Pune and Ranchi are new Test venues.
India squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya
Team: Virat (Capt), Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Rahane, Saha (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Ishant, Bhuvi, Umesh, Karun, Jayant, Kuldeep, Mukund & Pandya
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2017