As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) addresses the aftermath of injuries to KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, the selection committee is poised to finalize the roster for the remaining three Tests against England. While a formal meeting is expected on January 30 to determine the squad, the return of Virat Kohli remains a significant uncertainty.
Will Virat Kohli Make a Comeback for the Last 3 Matches of the Test Series?
Virat Kohli opted to withdraw from the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons, a decision supported by the BCCI. The exact nature of the personal matter remains undisclosed, with Kohli maintaining a low profile on social media. The BCCI press release confirmed Kohli’s absence from the initial matches, but no update has been provided on his potential return. Whether he will feature in the last three matches of the series remains a matter of keen interest.
On Monday, BCCI introduced Sarfaraz Khan, Sourabh Kumar, and Washington Sundar to the Test squad for the second match in Vizag, addressing the void left by the injuries to Rahul and Jadeja. While Rahul’s injury appears less severe, there are speculations that Jadeja might be sidelined for an extended period. The team management faces a decision on selecting spinners for the second Test, with Kuldeep Yadav waiting in the wings.
Sundar serves as a like-for-like replacement for Jadeja, while Kuldeep offers a more specialized spin option. Following India’s defeat in the first Test, certain players are under pressure, and the BCCI may contemplate introducing fresh faces in a bid to stage a comeback.
India’s Updated Squad for 2nd Test vs England:
- Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, Sourabh Kumar.
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