‘Iss baar 5-0 toh banta hai guru’ – Fans react as Indian Cricket Board announces squad for first Two Tests of England series

The Indian Cricket Board unveiled the squad for the first two Tests against England, appointing Rohit Sharma as the captain and Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy. The announcement brought a mix of notable inclusions and exclusions.

Star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan continued to be absent from the Test team, a trend that persisted after his non-selection for the Afghanistan T20Is. In his place, Dhruv Jurel earned a spot in the squad, getting his maiden Test call. The selection highlighted the Board’s focus on nurturing emerging talent, as Jurel, a 22-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, showcased promising performances in domestic cricket.

Further, the absence of Prasidh Krishna, reportedly due to an injury sustained during a Ranji match, led to the inclusion of Avesh Khan in the lineup. Meanwhile, pacer Mohammed Shami, still on the path to regaining full fitness, was also excluded from the squad.

Playing in spin-friendly home conditions India also included Axar Patel in place of pacer Shardul Thakur. However, the spotlight was on Dhruv Jurel, who made his entry into the Test squad. Having previously contributed to India A’s success against South African counterparts, Jurel’s impressive domestic performances, including a notable 69 in the Ranji Trophy, earned him the selectors’ nod. With a first-class debut against Vidarbha last year and a total of 790 runs from 15 matches at an average of 46 in domestic cricket, Jurel adds a youthful vigour to the team.

Are the doors closed for Ishan Kishan?

Regarding Ishan Kishan, who made himself available for the T20Is against Afghanistan but remained out of selection, coach Rahul Dravid emphasized that the left-hander would be reintegrated into the national fold once he performs well in domestic cricket.

In the bowling department, the absence of Prasidh Krishna allowed Avesh Khan to step in. However, the exclusion of seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami for the first two Tests against England was confirmed, as he has not yet resumed bowling since his ankle injury.

The announced squad for the initial Tests against England comprises a blend of experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, combined with the infusion of fresh talent in the form of youngsters like Dhruv Jurel and Avesh Khan. The team is gearing up for the challenges ahead as the first game is set to kick off on January 25 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

India vs England series details:

India Squad for the First Two Games: Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan

England Squad for the India Tour: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, and Mark Wood.

Here is how fans react to India’s squad:

https://twitter.com/VK18THEGOAT/status/1745855677363306855?s=20

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