Mumbai: Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has been included in the Indian Test squad for the first two matches, the BCCI announced on Friday.
The doors for Ishan's inclusion into the Test squad opened due to the unavailability of Rishabh Pant who met with a greivous accident and is undergoing treatment for his injuries in a Mumbai hospital.
This also gave an opportunity for KS Bharat to get into the side as the wicket-keeper.Suryakumar Yadav also has been included in the Test squad, looking at his supreme form in T20s for India.
Kishan has acquired 2985 runs at an average of 38.76 in 48 first-class matches since his first-class debut against Assam in 2014. A scintillating 273 is his highest first-class individual score against Delhi in November 2016.
Meanwhile, allrounder Ravindra Jadeja is making a comeback, but his availability is subject to his fitness. Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are the other spinners in the squad.
Rohit Sharma, who missed the Test series in Bangladesh due to a thumb injury, also returns to captain the side. KL Rahul, who led the side in his absence in Bangladesh, will be his deputy.
Jaydev Unadkat, who recently made a comeback into the Indian Test side after a gap of 12 years, has retained his place after picking up three wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh and eight more in first innings against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.(UNI)
