India vs England: No Virat Kohli, availability of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja subject to fitness

The men’s selection committee on Saturday has announced India’s squad for the remaining three Tests against England.

As reported by Indian Express, former India captain Virat Kohli will miss the remainder of the series due to personal reasons.

“Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision,” BCCI said in a statement.

Three days before the series began, Kohli had told the Indian team management and selectors that he wanted a break. In its press release, the BCCI had stated that, ‘While representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention. The BCCI respects his decision and the Board and team management has extended its support to the star batter’.

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja on the other hand, had both been part of India’s playing XI for the first Test in Hyderabad and had been ruled out for the second in Vizag owing to injuries. The duo’s availability is “subject to fitness.”

“The participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.”

Also missing the next three Tests would be middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer. As reported by this paper, Iyer has been ruled out because of injury and the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru will monitor his progress going ahead. Iyer had complained of stiffness in the back and pain in the groin area while playing forward defence.

Bengal pacer Akash Deep has earned his maiden call-up. The 27-year-old has been rewarded for his excellent performance for India A. He picked 11 wickets in two matches against England Lions. Mohammed Siraj, who has been rested for the second Test is included in the squad.

The third Test will start from February 15 in Rajkot, while the fourth Test kickstarts in Ranchi from February 23 and fifth and final Test of the series will be played in Dharamsala from March 7.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep

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