Hardik Pandya added to Indian Test squad for last two Tests

Hardik Pandya added to Indian Test squad for last two Tests

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BCCI

After proving his fitness in the Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai, Hardik Pandya has been added to the Indian team for the last two Tests, Baroda skipper Kedar Devdhar has revealed today. Pandya scored a half-century and took seven wickets in their Ranji Trophy Group A match at the Wankhede Stadium.

After suffering an acute back injury during the Asia Cup group league encounter against Pakistan, Pandya was ruled out of the competition and since then, he was on the rehab table. He missed India’s home series against Windies, A team’s tour of New Zealand along with the Australia T20 series. His absence in the first two Tests was deeply felt as India missed out a trick to play an all-rounder. However, Pandya is now up and running and as stated by Devdhar, he is ready to join the Indian team as well.

"He's not available for our next game, as he's going to Australia," Baroda captain Kedar Devdhar told Times of India.

To prove his fitness, he decided to make a comeback to the competitive cricket by playing for Baroda against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in which he performed as per the expectations. He bowled 18.5 overs in the first innings to claim five wickets before scoring 73 with the bat. In the second innings, Pandya bowled 10 overs to claim two for 21. The match was closely monitored by the national selector and former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh. 

Meanwhile, injured Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out for the remaining two Tests owing to an ankle injury and has been replaced by Mayank Agarwal.

The BCCI confirmed the same in a press release stating, "Opening batsman Prithvi Shaw, who had suffered a left ankle injury while attempting a catch in the practice game against CA XI has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against Australia. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Mayank Agarwal as his replacement."

"The selectors have also added all-rounder Hardik Pandya to India’s squad for the third and fourth Test to be played in Melbourne and Sydney respectively."

India’s squad for the 3rd and 4th Test against Australia: Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal

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