The five-match Test series between India and England is just 11 days away. India will play their first in Nottingham from August 4. However, the team has suffered a major blow before the start of the series.
Team India arrived with its 24 players on the England tour, out of which 3 have been out due to injuries. Apart from the injuries, three players and India's throwback expert also tested positive for Covid-19. Rishabh Pant recently returned to the Indian squad after fully recovering from the coronavirus. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran, who went as a backup opener, have also recovered from Covid-19 and are expected to join the team today.
The board is worried about the injury to three players after the team's spin all-rounder Washington Sundar has suffered a finger injury. He will return home to India soon.
Top-order batsmen Shubman Gill and bowler Avesh Khan have already been ruled out of the tour before Sundar.
According to media reports, Sundar has also suffered a thumb injury. It is being claimed that Sundar may take 6 weeks to recover completely.
Keeping all these things in mind, the team management has demanded replacements of all three players from BCCI. A senior BCCI official told that the team management has sought replacements. We are contemplating how to send them to England. If needed, the selectors will announce the names
Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Siraj, Mohd. Shami, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav.
Standby Players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Arjan Nagwaswala