India announces 20-member squad for WTC final and England Tests, Hardik Pandya misses out

India would be taking on New Zealand in the final of the ICC World Test Championship in Southampton from June 18. A five-Test series would follow it in England. Hardik Pandya is an Indian all-rounder who has recently represented the side across formats.

<p>With the fate of the just-postponed Indian Premier League still uncertain, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has already started to look beyond and prepare for its upcoming international commitments. The Indian squad for the forthcoming ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, followed by the five Tests in England, has been announced.</p>

With the fate of the just-postponed Indian Premier League still uncertain, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has already started to look beyond and prepare for its upcoming international commitments. The Indian squad for the forthcoming ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, followed by the five Tests in England, has been announced.

<p>The squad sees notable miss outs in the form of elegant all-rounder Hardik Pandya and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav. Also, wicketkeeper-batsmen KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha are subject to clearance of fitness test, upon which they would be included.</p>

The squad sees notable miss outs in the form of elegant all-rounder Hardik Pandya and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav. Also, wicketkeeper-batsmen KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha are subject to clearance of fitness test, upon which they would be included.

<p>As for Rahul, he recently underwent successful surgery for appendicitis and was advised complete rest by the doctors at least for a week before resuming training. Meanwhile, Saha has been tested positive for COVID-19, as he is currently serving a 14-day quarantine. Only upon a negative report he would be allowed to board the flight to England, while as of now, he continues to exhibit minor COVID symptoms, including loss of smell.</p>

As for Rahul, he recently underwent successful surgery for appendicitis and was advised complete rest by the doctors at least for a week before resuming training. Meanwhile, Saha has been tested positive for COVID-19, as he is currently serving a 14-day quarantine. Only upon a negative report he would be allowed to board the flight to England, while as of now, he continues to exhibit minor COVID symptoms, including loss of smell.

<p>Considering the ones dropped, Pandya’s drop comes as a surprise, while he has restricted himself from the bowling of late, including in the IPL 2021 for Mumbai Indians. Indian skipper Virat Kohli had asserted that it was essential to preserve Pandya for bowling in the longest format. Also, he had suffered a minor shoulder niggle in the IPL, which could be the reason for his axe. However, he had notably bowling for nine overs during the final One-Day International against England last month.</p>

Considering the ones dropped, Pandya’s drop comes as a surprise, while he has restricted himself from the bowling of late, including in the IPL 2021 for Mumbai Indians. Indian skipper Virat Kohli had asserted that it was essential to preserve Pandya for bowling in the longest format. Also, he had suffered a minor shoulder niggle in the IPL, which could be the reason for his axe. However, he had notably bowling for nine overs during the final One-Day International against England last month.

<p>Kohli and co are expected to leave for Southampton on June 2 to abide by the quarantine regulations in the United Kingdom and get ample training.</p>

Kohli and co are expected to leave for Southampton on June 2 to abide by the quarantine regulations in the United Kingdom and get ample training.

<p><strong>India’s 20-man squad for WTC final and England Tests:</strong><br />Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (wk; subject to fitness), Wriddhiman Saha (wk; subject to fitness).&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Reserves:</strong> Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla</p>

India’s 20-man squad for WTC final and England Tests:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (wk; subject to fitness), Wriddhiman Saha (wk; subject to fitness). 

Reserves: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla

<p><strong>India’s UK schedule:</strong><br />Jun 18-22: WTC final vs NZ (Southampton)<br />Aug 4-8: 1st Test vs ENG (Nottingham)<br />Aug 12-16: 2nd Test vs ENG (Lord’s)<br />Aug 25-29: 3rd Test vs ENG (Leeds)<br />Sep 2-6: 4th Test vs ENG (Oval)<br />Sep 10-14: 5th Test vs ENG (Manchester)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitise, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona</strong></p>

India’s UK schedule:
Jun 18-22: WTC final vs NZ (Southampton)
Aug 4-8: 1st Test vs ENG (Nottingham)
Aug 12-16: 2nd Test vs ENG (Lord’s)
Aug 25-29: 3rd Test vs ENG (Leeds)
Sep 2-6: 4th Test vs ENG (Oval)
Sep 10-14: 5th Test vs ENG (Manchester)

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitise, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona