Ravindra Jadeja In Test Squad For World Test Championship, England Series; No Prithvi Shaw

The squad also includes KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha, both subject to fitness clearance. Besides Prithvi Shaw, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also failed to make the cut

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 7 May 2021 7:57 pm

Ravindra Jadeja has been named in the 20-member squad for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship and also the five-match Test series against England. News | Full Schedule

Opener Prithvi Shaw, who was dropped after a poor show in Australia, has been ignored once again.

K L Rahul, who recently underwent a surgery after being diagnosed with appendicitis, and Wriddhiman Saha, who is infected with COVID-19 during the recently-suspended IPL, have been included subject to their fitness clearance.

The Indian team is scheduled to play the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Southampton from June 18-22 before taking on England in a five-Test series.

The series against England will begin at Nottingham (Aug 4-8) and will be followed by matches at Lord's (August 12-16), Leeds (Aug 25-29), Oval (Sep 2-6) and Manchester (Sep 10-14).

There is reportedly 14-day hard quarantine for passengers travelling from India to UK due to the existing COVID-19 situation in the country.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Navdeep Saini have been left out of India's Test squad. The selectors have also picked four standby players - Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Arzan Nagwaswalla.

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who played the recently held ODI and T20 home series against England, has been ignored, while Mohammed Shami, who had to leave the Australia tour mid-way due to an injury, has been named in the squad which is slated to leave for UK later this month.

Another major omission from the team is that of Hardik Pandya. Hardik was with team during the home series against England but did not play. He has not been picked for the England tour because he is not fit enough to bowl.

India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance).

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla