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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced India’s Test squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against the hosts Australia. This tour, commencing on November 22, will see India face off against the hosts in what promises to be a highly competitive series. Rohit Sharma is set to lead the squad, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah appointed as vice-captain.
Key players dropped from the Indian squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
In a significant shift, several established players from the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad have been dropped as selectors made bold changes. Some of these players have either struggled with form, faced stiff competition from younger talents, or been sidelined due to returning veterans.
1. Cheteshwar Pujara: Experienced Middle-Order Batter
Pujara, known for his resilience and technique, has been omitted as selectors opt for younger options in the middle order, marking the end of an era for one of India’s most steadfast Test specialists.
2. Shreyas Iyer: Middle-Order Batter
Despite his strong potential, Iyer faced a lean patch in recent series and couldn’t recover in time to secure a spot. His inconsistency in the middle order has led selectors to look elsewhere for stability.
3. Suryakumar Yadav: Explosive Middle-Order Batter
Yadav, a dynamic batter in shorter formats, has struggled to find his rhythm in the longer format. The selectors opted for consistency, leaving him out of the squad for Australia.
4. Ishan Kishan: Wicketkeeper-Batter
Known for his aggressive batting, Kishan misses out as the team prioritizes experienced wicketkeepers like KL Rahul and the returning Rishabh Pant, both known for their Test resilience.
5. Srikar Bharat: Wicketkeeper-Batter
Bharat’s exclusion comes as the team’s wicketkeeping roster solidifies with the inclusion of senior players Rahul and Pant. Bharat last played a Test in early 2024, but fierce competition has kept him from the squad.
6. Axar Patel: All-rounder
Patel, a left-arm spinner and handy lower-order batter, couldn’t find a place in the squad, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar providing the all-round options in the spin department.
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7. Kuldeep Yadav: Spinner
Yadav, despite his knack for breakthroughs, is left out, with the squad banking on a more balanced attack. His omission underscores the preference for finger spinners who offer control over the wrist spin variation.
8. Mohammed Shami: Fast Bowler
Shami, one of India’s premier pacers, has been rested in favor of emerging fast bowlers. Although he remains a vital part of India’s pace battery, selectors are focusing on fresh faces for this series.
9. Umesh Yadav: Fast Bowler
Yadav, known for his speed and bounce, has not made the cut, with India’s focus shifting toward younger pacers who bring versatility and stamina required for Australian conditions.
10. Jaydev Unadkat: Pacer
Unadkat, who made a brief comeback in recent years, has been left out as the team prioritizes emerging pacers who bring extra pace and variety in the Australian pitches.
New additions in the Indian Test squad
India’s squad also sees fresh additions who bring unique strengths to the team. Among them is Prasidh Krishna, an express pacer who debuted in the Boxing Day Test last year. Batting prospect Abhimanyu Easwaran joins to strengthen the top order and emerging talents Harshit Rana (fast bowler) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (all-rounder) also add depth, giving selectors a versatile squad for Australian conditions.
India’s Test squad for the 2024-25 Australia tour
Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
