All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been rested for India’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka starting next week after initially being named in the squad for the first two matches.
The selection committee took the decision on Friday after consulting with the Indian team management considering Pandya’s “heavy recent workload”, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a press release.
Pandya, 24, has been playing for India across all three formats since making his Test debut during thr tour of Sri Lanka in July. He has played three Tests, 22 One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals since.
The Test series against Sri Lanka will be followed by an ODI and T20I series against the same opponents, following which India will embark on what is set to be a difficult tour of South Africa in January.
“Considering Mr Pandya’s heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern,” the BCCI release said. “Mr Pandya will undergo a period of strength and conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.”
The BCCI had earlier announced a squad for the first two Tests with Pandya’s name included. This has now been modified to the following, with no replacement announced:
India squad for first two Tests: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.
The selectors also announced the Indian Board President’s XI squad that will play a warm-up match against Sri Lanka. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson will lead the team.
Board President’s XI squad: Sanju Samson (captain and wicketkeeper), Jiwanjot Singh, B Sandeep, Tanmay Agarwal, Abhishek Gupta, Rohan Prem, Akash Bhandari, Jalaj Saxena, Chama Milind, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Warrier, Ravi Kiran, Anmolpreet Singh.
