Internet Desk: The Indian selectors have again picket fully fit Murali Vijay in place of Abhinav Mukund as they named a 16-men squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka. As India skipper Virat Kohli wants some rest, the selectors haven’t announced the squad for the third and final Test.
It would be interesting to see whether Vijay replaces Dhawan in the playing XI in the first Test. Dhawan got his chances in the team in place of Vijay who couldn’t join the team at the last moment due to an injury ahead of Sri Lanka tour.
The squad which will face the Lankans goes as Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav.
Though the selectors again have neglected India’s ace spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the T20I series against New Zealand, but they are the part of the Test squad and new spin sensation Kuldeep Yadav might play the role of third spinner against Sri Lanka.
BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary has also confirmed that Ajinkya Rahane will be the deputy of Virat during the Test rubber.
Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav.