Ind V Eng: Hardik Pandya Joins Team India, Ishant Sharma Returns

By Sona Kadam on November 2, 2016 at 2:05 PM

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Finally the squad for the first two tests against England has been announced. All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been named in the Indian squad. But three of India’s key players across format Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have missed the bus due to injuries.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma returned to the 15-man squad after missing the Test series against New Zealand because of an illness. Pandya was picked in the squad after playing 16 first-class matches, in which he took 22 wickets at an average of 33 for Baroda. He has already played four ODIs and 16 T20 internationals.

Spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were rested for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, have made a comeback to the squad named for the first two matches.

Series schedule:

The first Test will begin from November 9 at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. The second Test of the series will be played at Visakhapatam, which will be hosting it’s first Test game from November 17, whereas the third Test will be at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali. The fourth match of the series will be Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium, while fifth and final Test will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

India is currently ranked No.1 in the world after thrashing New Zealand 3-0 at home last month. This series against England will be no less than a task for the home side as India has lost last 3 test series to England.

INDIA SQUAD FOR FIRST 2 TESTS AGAINST ENGLAND: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Cheteshwar Pujara.