India’s test squad for Sri Lanka tour announced: Gambhir and Sehwag snubbed

Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been recalled to the squad to face Sri Lanka, but all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remains out of the selectors’ thoughts. Although rain spoiled his comeback plans and robbed him of a fair chance to showcase his hard work, his three wickets in the match were enough for the selectors to help him retain his spot.

Sandeep Patil asserted that this was the best team to tour Sri Lanka, and wants everyone to back the new captain Virat.

Karn Sharma, who was part of the squad for the solitary Test against Bangladesh, was the only notable absentee having suffered a finger injury ahead of India’s limited overs tour of Zimbabwe earlier this month while pacer Mohammad Shami is still undergoing rehabilitation work on his injured knee at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Harbhajan played in the drawn test against Bangladesh along with Ashwin, who has been India’s main spinner in recent years.

Full squad: Virat Kohli (C), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Aaron and Amit Mishra.

“Amit Mishra was always in the scheme of things”.

Young Karnataka batsman KL Rahul, who missed the one-off Test in Bangladesh due to fever, has also been included in the team to be captained by Virat Kohli. A year ago also he was in reserves.

After announcing the team, Patil revealed that Pragyan Ojha’s name was also discussed only to admitted their inability to accommodate Bhubaneswar-born player in the list.

The fast bowling department will be manned by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron. “His being played or not played in the final 11 is always up to the team management”.

Galle (Aug 12-16) will host the first Test while Colombo (Aug 20-24 and August 28-Sep 2) will stage the two other matches.