On Tuesday, January 30, the men’s selection committee for India will meet to discuss who should be included in the squad for the three remaining Test matches against England. India’s 28-run loss in the Hyderabad Test has left them behind 0-1 in the series.
With England incredible comeback at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, all the pressure is on Rohit Sharma’s team to lead the home team to victory.
It is expected that the panel will probably keep most of the team, with the possibility of an occasional change. Notably, Sourabh Kumar, Washington Sundar, and Sarfaraz Khan have been called up for the second Test, which is scheduled to start at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Friday, February 2. Sarfaraz and Sourabh have both merited their first-ever call-ups, having demonstrated excellent performances for India A in their two-match informal Test series against the Lions. Sundar gives depth to the team on his comeback, having last played in a Test match in 2021.
Nevertheless, Team India suffered a blow when injuries prevented KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja from playing in the second Test. Jadeja’s issues with his right quadriceps and Rahul’s hamstring strain had made things difficult for the two. The Indian team faces difficulties in trying to win the series because of the absence of these important players.
It appears that Virat Kohli will return for the rest of the series.
There is still a lot of conjecture surrounding the impending issue of Virat Kohli’s return. With the excuse of “personal reasons,” Kohli withdrew from the first two matches in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. In a statement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) detailed the developments surrounding Kohli. Rajat Patidar, 30, was announced as the player who will take his spot in the squad. After the selectors’ considerations, it will be known if Kohli plays in the next three games of the series.
Shubman Gill’s place in the Indian squad is still up for debate, but it seems doubtful that he would be benched. Cricket fans are still interested in Cheteshwar Pujara’s possible return to the Indian team. But since Mohammed Shami is currently in London, it is improbable that he will play in the next few games. The upcoming Test matches, which are slated to occur in Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala, will provide India with chances to turn the series around.