India vs England 2024

India Cricket Board announces squad for final Test against England

With the Indian team winning the Indian team leading the series 3-1, the Indian Cricket Board unveiled the squad for the fifth and concluding Test against England on Thursday, February 29. Notably, top batsman KL Rahul will remain sidelined for this final match, having already missed the second, third, and fourth Tests of the series. The 31-year-old cited discomfort in his right quadriceps following the first Test in Hyderabad and was unable to recover match fitness for the subsequent matches despite being included in the squad.

The star batter is currently under the supervision of the board’s medical team, who are working in conjunction with specialists in London to address his medical concerns. Meanwhile, pace bowling leader Jasprit Bumrah has been reintroduced into the team after being rested ahead of the fourth Test in Ranchi to manage his workload. It’s worth noting that the 30-year-old has participated in five Tests since December 26, 2023, bowling a total of 129.2 overs during these matches.

Furthermore, the star pacer has excelled as the top wicket-taker for India in the recent Test series against South Africa, claiming 12 wickets at an average of 12.92. In the ongoing series, he stands as the second-highest wicket-taker with 17 dismissals at an average of 13.64. Moreover, he will rejoin the squad for the final Test in Dharamsala starting on March 7. Meanwhile, all-rounder Washington Sundar has been released from the squad to play in the Ranji Trophy semi-final for Tamil Nadu against Mumbai, returning to the squad post-game if needed.

Devdutt Padikkal likely to make Test debut

With four debut caps already granted in the series, the Indian team management is contemplating offering the fifth to Devdutt Padikkal, should KL Rahul fail to recover from his injury in time. The team is expected to assemble in Chandigarh on Saturday, March 02, before flying to Dharamsala via a chartered flight. The slim likelihood of Rahul’s full recovery by then suggests an opportunity for Padikkal to potentially make his Test debut.

After the Ranchi Test, Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar convened a meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid, the coaching staff, and captain Rohit Sharma. Following Rahul’s decision to seek specialist advice in London, it was collectively agreed to proceed with Padikkal. The left-handed batsman boasts 2227 runs in first-class cricket from 31 matches, with an impressive average of 44.54, including six centuries and 12 half-centuries. Notably, in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024, Padikkal leads the batting charts for Karnataka, amassing 556 runs at a remarkable average of 92.66 in four matches, with three centuries to his credit.