Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 14: Ishan Kishan, wicketkeeper and batter, has been selected for the first two Test matches between India and Australia (January 13), the BCCI announced on Friday.
Rishabh Pant getting sidelined for a prolonged period has opened the doors for Ishan’s inclusion in the squad.
In 48 first-class games since making his first-class debut against Assam in 2014, Kishan has amassed 2985 runs at an average of 38.76. His 273-point first-class performance against Delhi in November 2016 was his best.
Suryakumar Yadav, who has been on fire for India in T20I matches, also selected for the test. The middle-order batsman made his first-class debut against Delhi in December 2010 and has 5549 runs at an average of 44.79 in that format.
Jasprit Bumrah, a fast bowler who has been sidelined with a back injury since September of last year, is not included in the roster for the first two Test matches.
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Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Jaydev Unadkat make up the majority of the speed bowling unit in his absence. Unadkat recently rejoined the Indian Test team after a 12-year absence, and in the second Test against Bangladesh, he claimed three wickets.
Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to make a comeback but his availability will be subject to fitness. R. Ashwin, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are the other spinners in the squad. Rohit Sharma, who missed the Test series in Bangladesh due to a thumb injury, also returns to captain the side.
Indian squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
