Team India squad announced for last two Tests against Australia

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15 man team India squad for the remaining two Tests against Australia. The series stands levelled at 1-1 at this stage with two more Tests scheduled to be played at Ranchi and Dharamsala. There is one big surprise in the Indian team for the final two Tests. Much against all the speculations and media rumours, pacer Mohammad Shami has not been named in the squad. Middle order Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma also fails to make it to the side.

Both Shami and Rohit had expressed their desire to make a comeback during the Australia Test series. Virat Kohli will lead the side. Three openers who were in the squad for the first two Tests have been retained. Despite a poor show at Bengaluru, Abhinav Mukund retains his place in the squad. KL Rahul and Murali Vijay are the other two openers named by the BCCI.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Karun Nair are the other three batsmen to fill in the middle order. The spin department will boast of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, which is an expected call. Off-spinner Jayant Yadav and young chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav have also retained their place.

The pace department has three pacers, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Wriddhiman Saha is the solitary keeper in the side. All in all, it is the same team that was named for the first two Tests. Only Hardik Pandya is the member excluded from the squad. The 3rd Test kicks off on March 16 at Ranchi. The final Test will be played at Dharamsala starting on March 25.

Team India squad for final two Tests against Australia:

Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.