Cheteshwar Pujara makes comeback into Test squad after dream run for Sussex

Mumbai: After a dream run in county cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara made a comeback into India's Test squad for a one-off Test match against England in July.

His 720 runs in 8 innings at an average of 120.00 studded with two double-centuries for Sussex compelled the national selectors to sit up and consider him for the Test duty.

Pujara had signed up with Sussex after he went unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction held in Bengaluru. And he did not disappoint the county team.

Ajinkya Rahane, who also was not considered for the Sri Lanka series, was not picked up due to his unavailability for selection following a hamstring injury.

Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma also were not picked and were replaced with KS Bharat as the reserve wicketkeeper and Prasidh Krishna, respectively.

The team will be skippered by Rohit Sharma that includes KL Rahul (vice captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh pant, Jsprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav among others.

Shubnam Gill has retained his place in the side and Mayank Agarwal was overlooked. Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari would man the middle order.

Ravindra Jadeja has been considered, though he was ruled out of the ongoing IPL season due a rib injury. Ravichandran Ashwin also made the cut, despite warning the benches in 4 Test matches played last year.

Bumrah will spearhead the pace attack along with Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh.

The Edgbaston Test match is a part of five-match Test series that was temporarily called off after the 4th Test due to Covid. India is leading the series 2-1. The Test will be played from July 1 to 5.

The selection committee also named an 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I home series against South Africa.

KL Rahul has been named the captain of the 18-man T20 side. Jammu and Kashmir speed sensation Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh got maiden India call-ups.

Rohit, Kohli and Bumrah are among the senior players to be rested for the five-match T20I series against South Africa next month.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohd Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

T20 squad: KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik. (UNI)