Team India limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Sharma takes over from Virat Kohli, who quit captaincy in the longer format, following the away series defeat in South Africa.
Out-of-form veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have, expectedly, been dropped from India's squad for the two matches. Selection committee chairman Chetan Sharma said that both batters had been spoken to about the decision, and have been told to find form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
"The selection committee deliberated a lot on Rahane and Pujara. We told them we will not consider them against Sri Lanka but doors are open for them. We told them to go and play Ranji Trophy," Sharma told reporters during a virtual press conference.
Sri Lanka's tour will begin with a three-match T20I series starting February 24 and will be followed by the Test matches from March 4.
Ravindra Jadeja, who had missed the second home Test against New Zealand and the entire South Africa series and the ongoing home series against West Indies due to injury, has been included in the squad.
Senior wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha and experienced pacer Ishant Sharma were also left out of the Tests. Ravichandran Ashwin will be available subject to his fitness, while Axar Patel is still recovering and is expected to be fit for the second Test.
Rookie Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar was the only new face in the 18-member squad.
Jasprit Bumrah has been named the vice-captain, for both Tests and T20Is.
India Test squad:
Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), K.S. Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin (subject to fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar.
India T20I squad:
Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan.
