Virat Kohli is all set to lead India in the home Test match series against England starting in Chennai from February 5. (More Cricket News)
The selectors have also named all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pacer Ishant Sharma to bolster the injury-ravaged squad returning from Australia. Selectors have dropped pacer T Natarajan, added spin all-rounder Axar Patel to the squad, which has been named only for first two Tests of four-match series
Kohli headed back to India on a paternity leave after the Adelaide Test. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the final Test in Brisbane against Australia due to an abdominal strain, has also been named in the squad.
The squad was named only for the first two Tests of the four-match series, starting on February 5 in Chennai.
Senior pacer Ishant had missed the Australia tour due to the side strain he suffered during the IPL in the UAE while Pandya only played the ODIs and T20Is Down Under.
Axar Patel is yet to make his Test debut while he last played for India in T20Is in February 2018 against South Africa. He has also played 38 ODI matches. He is being seen as an apt replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.
Ajinkya Rahane, who led India in three Tests in Australia after Kohli's departure, was named as the vice-captain.
Expectedly, the selection panel retained youngster Shubhman Gill and Washington Sundar, rewarding for their excellent performance in Australia.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, whose all-round ability helped India immensely in Brisbane, also kept their places along with Mayank Agarwal, who struggled for runs.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who missed the Brisbane Test due to back injury, has also been named in the line-up as he is expected to recover by the time England land in India.
Wriddhiman Saha is the second wicket-keeper in the squad along with Rishabh Pant, whose gritty 89 not out shaped India's three-wicket win in Brisbane.
The second Test will also be played in Chennai (February 13-17) while Ahmedabad will host the third (February 24-28) and fourth Test (March 4-8).
The four-Test series will be followed by a five-match T20I series and three-match ODI rubber that will conclude on March 28 in Pune.
K S Bharat, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shahbaz Nadeem, Rahul Chahar and Priyank Panchal have been named as standby players.
The Squad:
Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.
