The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced the 16-member Indian Test squad for the first two Tests in the four-match home series against Australia, slated to start from February 23.
The selection committee, led by MSK Prasad, retained the squad that beat Bangladesh by 208 runs in the one-off Test match at Hyderabad.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who suffered a knee injury forcing him to sit out of the Bangladesh Test, has failed to find a place in the squad.
The two matches for which the team was announced will be played in Pune (February 23-27) and Bangalore (March 4-8). The remaining two matches will be played between March 16 to 20 and March 25 to 29 in Ranchi and Dharamsala, respectively.
Pacer Mohammed Shami, who was undergoing rehabilitation with the team before being forced to leave owing to his father's death, has also not found a place in the squad. Shami had undergone a surgery to recuperate from a career-threatening knee injury.
Elsewhere, there wasn't any change in the side with Ajinkya Rahane, Jayant Yadav and Hardik Pandya holding on to their places. Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were automatic choices.
The pace trio of Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav have also been picked.
Wriddhiman Saha continued to be the team's first-choice wicketkeeper. Opener Abhinav Mukund has also been retained in the side even though he did not play in the match against Bangladesh.
The Virat Kohli-led Indians, who are on a 19-match unbeaten streak, are scheduled to play four Tests against Australians.
The squad for first two Tests against Australia: Virat Kohli (Captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, W Saha (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund and Hardik Pandya.
