Rohit to miss England series, Pandya called up
Rohit Sharma is set to miss the entirety of India’s Test series with England due to a thigh injury, while Hardik Pandya has received a maiden call-up for the opening two matches.
Batsman Rohit top-scored with 70 last week as India secured a series-clinching one-day international victory over New Zealand.
However, the 29-year-old sustained a thigh injury during his innings and is now expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks, with surgery potentially required.
India will also be without Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul for the first two Tests, the duo still yet to regain full fitness following respective thumb and hamstring problems.
Gautam Gambhir – recalled during the New Zealand Test series as a result of those injuries – therefore retains his place and all-rounder Pandya is in contention to earn a first Test cap.
Pace bowler Ishant Sharma returns from illness, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who hurt his hamstring during the second Test against the Black Caps, is omitted along with Shardul Thakur.
India’s five-Test rubber with England, who were beaten in their most recent Test by Bangladesh, begins next Tuesday in Rajkot.
India squad for first two Tests against England: Virat Kohli (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Karun Nair, Hardik Pandya, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav.
