The Chetan Sharma-headed selection panel named India’s squad for the upcoming T20I and Test series against Sri Lanka on Saturday (February 19). While there were no surprises in the T20I squad, there were plenty of seniors who were dropped from the Test team. The selection committee dropped former vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha for two Test matches.
While many would think that this is probably the end of the road for them, this isn’t the case. Speaking to the press following the squad announcement, Sharma revealed that all 4 players were told about being dropped only for these 2 Test matches.
Sharma added that the selection committee asked them to play Ranji Trophy and that the door is not shut on any of the 4 players. “We have deliberated a lot on them. We decided not to consider them for the SL series. We asked them to play Ranji. For these two matches, we decided to give chance to others. They can still make a comeback. Ajinkya got a hundred in the Ranji match. It is a bad phase. It is very important for the selectors to manage them,” Sharma said.
“We have informed them that Ishant and Wriddhi will not be considered for the two-match Test series against SL. But the door is not closed to them. We have requested all four to play the Ranji Trophy.”
Rahane and Pujara are playing Ranji Trophy for their respective state teams while Ishant will play for Delhi from their second fixture. Saha isn’t playing the red-ball tournament. Rahane impressed on his return to domestic cricket and scored a century against Saurashtra.
Saha has been replaced by KS Bharat, who has kept wickets in international cricket a few times. He is yet to make his debut in any format. Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar is the only new face in the team. Rohit Sharma has replaced Virat Kohli and given charge of the Test team too. He will be assisted by pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, R Pant, KS Bharat, R Ashwin (subject to fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, J Bumrah (VC), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar
