India's Squad Update for First Two Tests Against England: Shami Omitted, Spinners to Lead Charge
Injuries, Strategy, and New Faces Mark Team Selection for Upcoming Test Series
For the first two Test matches against England, Mohammed Shami was left off of the squad. The five-match series begins in Hyderabad on January 25.
Although Shami had wanted to return at the beginning of the series, it is believed that the national selectors decided against taking a chance on him after consulting the National Cricket Academy medical staff. The fast bowler is recovering from an ankle ailment and hasn't bowled since the November 19 ODI World Cup final.
Additionally, it is anticipated that the spinners will dominate the home series and that the pacers will not play a significant part.
Prasidh Krishna, who participated in both Test matches in South Africa, was not taken into consideration following an injury he sustained in a Ranji Trophy match on Friday. Instead, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Avesh Khan have been selected.
At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, during Karnataka's match against Gujarat, Prasidh sustained a left quadriceps injury and had to leave the field after bowling 14.5 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are back in the squad. Given that England hitters are vulnerable against wrist spin, Kuldeep might be the third alteration to the starting XI, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja certain spots.
Among the 16 players in the squad, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel of Uttar Pradesh is the only one without a cap. The 22-year-old becomes the team's third keeper, joining KS Bharat and KL Rahul, who both had wickets in South Africa.
But Ishan Kishan hasn't shown up yet. Kishan "will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection" when he feels ready, according to head coach Rahul Dravid, who made this announcement lately. He had asked for a break from the team management and had come home from South Africa.
Jurel was selected for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup after making his IPL debut the previous season. He participated in India A's second unofficial Test in South Africa. He is a member of the England Lions' opponent team.
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