Fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar and opener Shikhar Dhawan have been released from the Indian Test cricket team squad against Sri Lanka citing personal reasons, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Thursday. Bhuvneshwar, who was named the 'Man of the Match' in Kolkata Test for his impressive performance with the ball will take not take further part in the Test series, whereas, Shikhar Dhawan will be available for selection in the third Test, Acting Secretary of the BCCI Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement.
The 27-year old pacer is set to tie the knot with fiancee Nupur Nagar on November 23, his father confirmed earlier this month. On the other hand, the Delhi-born batsman Dhawan has to attend his sister's marriage this week.
Tamil Nadu cricketer Vijay Shankar has been named as Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s replacement in the Indian team.
"The BCCI would like to inform that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan have been released from India's Test team. The duo made a request to the selectors and the team management to release them owing to personal reasons," the statement said.
"Kumar will not take any further part in the ongoing Paytm Test series against Sri Lanka and the All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Vijay Shankar as his replacement. Dhawan is available for selection for the third Test," it further stated.
Shankar is not expected to play in the second Test as Murali Vijay is the reserve opener in the squad and Ishant Sharma is the third pacer.
However, this is the maiden call-up for the Tamil Nadu One Day captain, who has scored 1671 runs and taken 27 wickets in 32 first-class matches. He has been playing for India A for some time and also is next in line after Hardik Pandya as the seam bowling all-rounder.
The second Test of the three-match series will be played in Nagpur from November 24.
India Test squad for the second Test:
Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar.
