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Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, Parthiv Patel recalled for Australia Test series
Rohit Sharma makes his comeback to the Indian Test team for the tour of Australia scheduled to begin at the end of this year. Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad explained the Mumbai batsman’s selection saying that his backfoot play is suited to play in Australia.
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“With regards to Rohit, he is a good back-foot player and his game is much suited in Australia,” he said, as quoted by India Today.
The 18-member squad also features Murali Vijay, who returns to the side after having faced the axe following poor performances for India in the tour of England.
But the right-hander performed well during his stint with Essex wherein he scored four fifties and a hundred. Another notable inclusion is that of Prithvi Shaw, who was highly impressive during the Test series against the West Indies when he slammed a hundred on debut and even won the man of the series award. This automatically shuts the door on Shikhar Dhawan, especially considering the fact that KL Rahul has been retained in the squad. Hanuma Vihari, who dazzled on debut with a 50 against England at The Oval.
“Vijay went back and performed and considering the intensity of the series we have brought him,” Prasad added.
Meanwhile, Mayank Agarwal, who had made it to the squad for the West Indies series following superlative performances in domestic cricket doesn’t make the cut. He was named in India’s A squad for the first four-day game against New Zealand.
Parthiv Patel also makes it to the side as the second wicket-keeper after Rishabh Pant. Patel had last played Test cricket for India in 2016 at home and justifying his selection, Prasad said, “Parthiv was not picked for Afghanistan Test and subsequent England series. He played the Duleep Trophy and whatever matches that happened, he batted well. It’s an intensive series (in Australia) and we have called him back.”
In the bowling department, Ishant Sharma, who had injured himself during the England Test series has been named in the squad. He would be accompanied by the likes of Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav would shoulder the burden in the spin department.
Other top Indian players would participate in India A’s first four-day match against New Zealand. Ajinkya Rahane would captain the side which would have Shaw, Rohit, Vijay.
India squad for Australia Test series: Virat Kohli (C), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Shami, Ishant, Umesh, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
India’s squad for first-four day match against New Zealand: M Vijay, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Parthiv Patel (WK), K Gowtham, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Rajneesh Gurbani, Vijay Shankar, KS Bharath.
Image credit- Hindustan Times
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