Twitter Reactions: Indian selectors surprise most with the squad for England Tests

The Indian selectors announced the Indian Test squad for the first two games of the five-match series against England that starts from November 9 at Rajkot. They weren’t expected to make a lot of changes since the team did really well in the previous series against New Zealand and most of the players in the team have been performing quite consistently.

There were a few players who missed out due to injuries- Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma were reportedly unavailable for selection and Gautam Gambhir, Karun Nair and Hardik Pandya were thus included in the team. Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was in as a replacement for Ishant Sharma and was then replaced by Shardul Thakur for the last Test is yet to recover while Ishant is all fit and raring to have a go at the English team.

Opener Murali Vijay will have Gambhir as his partner while Cheteshwar Pujara will take up the No. 3 position, with skipper Virat Kohli at 4 and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane to follow. Hardik is included in the XI will take up Rohit’s place while the two spin bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will sum up the batting might of the team.

It will also be interesting to see if Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble push ahead with four bowlers strategy that they opted for in the New Zealand series or go for five bowlers making it a three spinners: two pacers attack. With Pandya, they also have the option of playing an additional batsman given he can bowl with the new ball and has the ability to swing the ball and can hit the deck hard as well.

Also check out- Twitterati express shock over Hardik Pandya inclusion for England series

While most were surprised with Pandya’s inclusion and Rohit’s exclusion here is how Twitter reacted to the Indian team selection:

MSK Prasad: Dravid worked hard on Pandya's mental coaching in India A tour. Now Kumble is doing same. He is a genuine all-rounder. #IndvEng

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 2, 2016

To be part of the Indian ?? Test squad is a dream come true for me. pic.twitter.com/OZUFAHo97p

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 2, 2016

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my supporters, family members & the selectors for having faith in me.✌️️#INDvENG

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 2, 2016

Thank you for your wishes and messages. Keep supporting Team India. Onwards and upwards! #INDvENG

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 2, 2016

Rohit out for 6-8 weeks due to thigh strain. Dhawan has just started his rehab. Rahul unavailable for 1st Test. #IndvEng

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 2, 2016

Pandya gets selected for #IndvEng Test. I want our selectors to go through a Dope Test.

— ️Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 2, 2016

By axing Dhawan team India gave more time to Gautam Gambhir to revisit his old days n make merry of d chances… #INDvENG

— Marcus Fernandez (@mcfern29) November 2, 2016

No Yuvi in the team , Yograj be like Virat will be penniless one day #INDvENG

— Yash?? (@YashR06) November 2, 2016

Yesterday my friend told me that Hardik Pandya will make it to the Test squad and I laughed him off saying u better don't speak! #WTF

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 2, 2016

I quite like Hardik Pandya, but a Test call-up seems premature. #INDvENG

— Shiamak Unwalla (@ShiamakUnwalla) November 2, 2016

With England Cricket having the edge over the Indian Team in the previous 3 Test series,there's a #ScoreToSettle for VK's men!#INDvENG

— zoy_pal (@zoy_pal) November 2, 2016

Being a #TeamIndia supporter & a cricket fan I'm asking @BCCI, on which ground @YUVSTRONG12 has not been selected for the #INDvENG series?

— Upendra Brahmachari (@unbrahmachari) November 2, 2016

Ishant Sharma back into the squad for #IndvEng test, Now I am expecting Firangis to give our Kohinoor back for this kind gesture.

— ️Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 2, 2016

India's Test squad: Five batsmen, three fast bowlers, four spinning allronders, one seam-bowling allrounder, one wicketkeeper. #INDvENG

— Jamie Alter (@jamie_alterTOI) November 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/holdingwilley/status/793728188304142336

We have been looking for all rounder after @therealkapildev. @hardikpandya7 has been working with Dravid, Kumble: BCCI #INDvENG

— CricFit (@CricFit) November 2, 2016

#INDvENG MSK Prasad: Even if there were regular openers, we would have still preferred @GautamGambhir. We think 10 times before selecting

— TOI Sports News (@TOISportsNews) November 2, 2016

Wish @ImRo45 a speedy recovery. Just when he was estb himself as a key test player this injury happens. Unfortunate. #INDvENG #grudgeseries

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 2, 2016

No Lokesh Rahul
No Shikhar Dhawan
So, It's Confirmed That Gambhir Will Open With Vijay#INDvENG

— Ŝαιуααяα! (@BeingKushSharma) November 2, 2016

Top of the Ranji charts with 587 runs from 4 matches, but no recall to the Test side for @YUVSTRONG12 Selectors go with Karun #cricket

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) November 2, 2016

If @hardikpandya7 can deserve opportunity in test then why not @YUVSTRONG12
a match winner player in all format. @BCCI @imVkohli#INDvENG

— Avinashsinh Barad (@BaradAvinash) November 2, 2016

Horrible horrible squad for england series.Thakur and kuldeep should have been picked ahead of jayant and pandya.#IndVEng.#IndiaSquad

— karthik raj (@kartcric) November 2, 2016

#INDvENG if hardik get a chance in Indian test team means. Irfan Pathan y they didn't pick him. Pathan for better than hardik pandya

— BHARATHAN (@bharathanjay1) November 2, 2016

Does @hardikpandya7 really deserve to be in Test? its a big Question Mark?, he is a better player in #T20 & #ODI rather then test #INDvENG

— Vimlesh Kumar.R (@vimleshk659) November 2, 2016

Wow Hardik Pandya gets a #Test call up? I never thought I'd say this but… Suddenly Talent itself seems a better option! #IndVeng #cricket

— Mohan Krishnamoorthy (@mohank) November 2, 2016

I feel bad for #KLRahul, he is missing out on one of the best seasons of his career because of injury. #INDvENG

— Arun Dev (@ArunDev1) November 2, 2016

Rohit Sharma is badly injured. Chance of surgical intervention. Ruled out of entire Test series: MSK Prasad, chief selector. #INDvENG

— Just Cricket (@BatBallStumps) November 2, 2016