India selects an interesting squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka

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Only a change made, as India announces squad for the Test series. Image Source: twitter

Internet Desk: India’s star opening batsman in ODI, Rohit Sharma made a comeback to the Indian Test team replacing Karun Nair for the three-match Test rubber against neighbour Sri Lanka which will start from July 26.

The selectors have also brought back opener Lokesh Rahul as he has fully recovered from his shoulder injury. Before the injury Rahul was in prime form too.

The three-member selection committee picked a 16-member squad today via tele-conference today. They have retained 15 members of the squad who played the last test against Australia at Dharamsala. Rohit is the only member who is included in the team in place of Karun.

That Rohit will make a comeback was indicated by skipper Kohli in England and that was precisely the reason why he was rested for the limited overs series against West Indies.

Before his injury, Rohit had scored a hat-trick of half- centuries against New Zealand and the policy of the committee has been to retain a player, who had to forego his place due to injury.

Nair had gone off the boil after his triple century against England and could not even score a single half-century with scores of 26, 23 and 5 against Australia.

The national selection committee has named Karun the captain of the India A ‘Test’ side to South Africa, where he is expected to play both formats.

The 16th member of the squad is third opener Abhinav Mukund, who made a comeback against Australia. The four pacers Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami were automatic selections.

India will play the first Test at Galle from July 26, followed by second Test at Colombo from August 3 and the final Test at Kandy from August 12.

Squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, M Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.