Mumbai: Fit-again pacer Ishant Sharma is likely to make a comeback when the national selection committee meets here Wednesday to pick the Indian team for the upcoming Test series against England commencing November 9. BCCI sources stated that the side will be picked for the first three Tests.
Although India trounced New Zealand 3-0 convincingly in the previous Test rubber, the selection panel, headed by MSK Prasad, will have quite a few things to consider before naming the team for the five-match rubber.
Injury to opener KL Rahul in the opening Test at Kanpur and the indisposition of Ishant Sharma gave the selectors an opportunity to recall veteran opener Gautam Gambhir and off-break bowler Jayant Yadav for the second Test at Kolkata.
Gambhir did not play at Eden Gardens but got a chance to renew his interrupted international career after a two-year gap when Shikhar Dhawan suffered a finger injury at Kolkata and was ruled out of the third and final Test at Indore. In the second innings at Indore, Gambhir got a half century. Now if both Rahul and Dhawan declare themselves fit, it would be interesting to see whether the selectors retain Gambhir.
Ishant did not play the entire Test series against New Zealand after being affected with Chikungunya. However, since then he has recovered and have played in two Ranji Trophy games and have bowled more than 40 overs at good pace.
The rest of the squad, to be led by Virat Kohli, is expected to be retained.
However, both Rahul and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have not played a single match since they got injured and their match fitness is yet to be proved.
While Rahul is nursing a hamstring strain, Bhuvneshwar is dealing with an ankle injury and it is unlikely that any of the two would get a chance unless they are able to prove match fitness.
Meanwhile, the visiting England squad are scheduled to land here Wednesday from Bangladesh after drawing the two-Test rubber against the hosts 1-1.
They are not scheduled to play any practice game and will have just one practice session November 5 at the Cricket Club of India grounds before leaving for the venue of the opening Test, Rajkot, according to BCCI sources.
“Currently they (England) have requested for one practice session. If they want more it will be arranged,” stated sources here.
The Indian squad will assemble in Rajkot, which is to host a first-ever Test, November 5 evening. The first Test begins November 9. However, main weapon Ravichandran Ashwin is epxected to arrive a day earlier as he wants to spend some extended sessions at the nets before the first game.
Press Trust of India
