The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Friday that Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Shami had been left out of India’s team for the first two Tests against England.
Kishan, the wicketkeeper batter, begged to be excused from the two-match series in South Africa in December, claiming personal reasons, and was not included in the 16-man team for the first two of five Tests against England, which begin on Jan. 25 in Hyderabad.
Shami, the fast bowler, is rehabilitating from an ankle injury. Dhruv Jurel, a 22-year-old wicketkeeper, has got his maiden international call-up.
Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav have also returned to the team to help India’s spin assault, although paceman Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out due to injury.
India’s team for the first two Tests against England:
KL Rahul (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shrey