KL Rahul Retains His Spot, Unadkat Back In After Ranji Final: India Announce Squad for 3rd and 4th Test and ODIs Against Australia
India has announced its squad for the remaining two Test matches and the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Australia. There are a few surprising selections and omissions, but overall, the squad seems well balanced and capable of giving Australia a tough fight.
The biggest news from the squad announcement is that KL Rahul has retained his spot in the Test squad despite his poor performances in the first two Tests. Rahul has scored just 57 runs in four innings in the ongoing series, but the selectors have shown faith in his abilities and have given him another chance to prove his worth.
Another notable inclusion in the Test squad is left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat, who has been called up after his impressive performances in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy final. Unadkat was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and played a crucial role in helping Saurashtra win their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
Apart from Unadkat, the Test squad also features some familiar names like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja, who will be expected to shoulder the responsibility of the bowling attack. The batting department will be led by Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane, who will be looking to make amends for their poor performances in the first two Tests.
In the ODI squad, the selectors have made some surprising inclusions and omissions. The biggest surprise is the omission of Hardik Pandya, who has been a regular member of the Indian ODI team for the past few years. Pandya has been struggling with injuries and his form in recent times has also been below par, but his exclusion from the squad has still come as a shock to many.
In his absence, the all-rounder’s spot has been filled by Shivam Dube, who has been in good form in the domestic circuit. Dube has been scoring heavily for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and is considered to be a like-for-like replacement for Pandya.
Another notable inclusion in the ODI squad is Prithvi Shaw, who has been rewarded for his impressive performances in the domestic circuit. Shaw has been scoring heavily in the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and is considered to be one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket.
Apart from Shaw and Dube, the ODI squad also features some familiar names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, who will be expected to lead the team’s charge. The squad also includes some new faces like Navdeep Saini, Shubman Gill, and Mayank Agarwal, who will be looking to make a mark in the limited-overs format.
Overall, the Indian squad for the remaining Tests and the ODI series against Australia looks well balanced and capable of giving the Aussies a tough fight. The inclusion of Jaydev Unadkat and Prithvi Shaw in the Test and ODI squads respectively is a testament to the selectors’ faith in young talent, and it will be interesting to see how they perform at the highest level.
However, the absence of Hardik Pandya from the ODI squad is a cause for concern, as he has been a vital cog in the Indian team’s wheel in recent times. The selectors’ decision to omit him from the squad suggests that they are looking at other options for the all-rounder’s role, and it will be interesting to see how Shivam Dube performs in his absence.
In conclusion, the Indian squad for the remaining Tests and the ODI.
