India respond to first home Test series loss in a decade with newbies

DELHI, India (AP):

ROHIT SHARMA will lead an 18-man squad as India look to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy across five Tests against Australia starting November 22.

India will look to bounce back from their first home Test series loss in 12 years against New Zealand in order to confirm qualification for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

They need to win four of their remaining six Tests this WTC cycle and will be aiming for a third straight Test win in Australia following 2-1 victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

Three uncapped players have been named to a squad missing pacer Mohammed Shami. Opening batter Abhimanyu Easwaran is included, along with all-rounder Nitish Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana.

The remainder of the squad is along expected lines – young batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to lead the charge, along with Virat Kohli, who has averaged 54.08 in 13 Tests in Australia.

Lokesh Rahul has been included, despite inconsistent form, along with Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru.

Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are the two keeper-batters. Pant was the architect of India’s last series’ win in Australia, playing a match-winning knock at the Gabba. Brisbane will host the third Test.

Three spinners were also named with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both possibly facing their last Australian tour, joined by Washington Sundar, who picked up 11 wickets in the second Test against New Zealand.

Achilles’ injury

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been left out due to a chronic groin issue and will seek treatment at home.

Shami is the biggest absentee as he is yet to recover from an Achilles’ injury sustained after the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He was expected to return for the home series against New Zealand but suffered a setback with a knee issue.

Although Shami has declared himself fit, and has been posting videos of himself bowling in the nets on social media, the national selectors ignored him from the initial squad.

If he does play domestic cricket in November, Shami could be included in the Indian squad from the third Test onwards.

Adelaide will host the second test, a day-night encounter, and there is sufficient time until the third as India will also play a two-day day-night practice game ahead of the Adelaide Test.

India have also named three travelling pace reserves in Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, and Navdeep Saini.

For the first time since 1991-92, Australia will host India in a five-Test series, and it will become the norm for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the future. Melbourne and Sydney will host the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests as per Australian tradition.

India have also named a T20 squad that will travel to South Africa for a four-match series starting November 8. Suryakumar Yadav leads the T20 side once again, with all-rounder Shivam Dube, batter Riyan Parag, and pacer Mayank Yadav missing due to injuries.

Durban, Gquberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg will host the four games, with the series ending on November 15.