Sharma sustained an injury during their match against New Zealand and will be replaced by Mayank Agarwal.
Prithvi Shaw, a right-handed opening batsman returns to the squad for the remaining Tests, while Mayank Agarwal is chosen to replace Rohit Sharma. Sharma has been ruled out of the squad due to a calf strain sustained during the fifth T20I against New Zealand.
‘Vice-captain Rohit Sharma sustained a left calf muscle strain during the fifth T20I against New Zealand at Tauranga on Sunday. He underwent an MRI scan in Hamilton on Monday. The opening batsman has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI and the Test series and will be referred to the National Cricket Academy for further management of his injury’, a statement released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
It was also announced that Shaw, Mayank, and Shubman Gill are their opening options. Shaw was named as one of the five breakout stars in men’s cricket in 2018 by the International Cricket Council (ICC). He was also able to score 150 runs during his first match against New Zealand XI.
On the other hand, Mayank Agarwal is a right-handed opening batsman for Karnataka who made his international Test debut against Australia in 2018.
Gill is also a top-order batsman who has yet to make his Test debut. He was also the leading run-scorer and regarded as the rising star of the squad.
Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma (subject to fitness clearance).
The 1st Test of India against New Zealand will be from February 21 to February 25 at Basin Reserve in Wellington, while the 2nd Test will be from February 29 to March 4 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. To learn more about Test cricket, check out Betwala’s page for more information.
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