Ishant, Ashwin to undergo fitness test before West Indies Test squad selection

Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin will undergo fitness tests just hours before the selection committee selects the India Test squad for the upcoming two Test-series against the West Indies at home on Saturday, reports PTI.

Both Ishant and Ashwin, who were injured during the Test series in England will take the fitness tests, which will determine their availability for the Test series, said a top BCCI official to the news agency.

“Ashwin is already doing his rehabilitation at the NCA for a groin injury. Even Ishant is expected to join him there. As of now, there is a fitness test scheduled on Saturday, September 29. The selectors may announce the team a day earlier if NCA physios and trainers rule the duo out even before fitness tests.”

The official also added that while the selection of the Test squad was supposed to take place on Wednesday, the unavailability of many for the committee – all of whom are believed to be in different places, watching over different Indian tournaments – it will take place on Saturday.

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“It was scheduled earlier but the five selectors’ itinerary was clashing as one (Sarandeep Singh) is in Dubai while two others (Jatin Paranjpe and Gagan Khoda) are watching Hazare Trophy at different venues. So it was decided that this will be an informal meeting where the selectors will take a stock of the situation.”

“The selection committee’s aim is to have a team for the series that will be a mirror image of the squad that will travel to Australia. Maybe two more players to the 15 for the Tests will be added when the team travels Down Under,” added the official.

Ashwin’s unavailability may open the doors for Yuzvendra Chahal, while Shikhar Dhawan may still continue to open the innings despite his poor form in England. Dhawan is the management’s favourite, said the official, as it will be a challenge to throw Prithvi Shaw or Mayank Agarwal into the mix.

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