The selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), led by Sandeep Patil, announced the squad for India for the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. They made only one change to the team that went to Bangladesh, with Karn Sharma being replaced by Amit Mishra. Sharma, who is still recovering from a finger injury was not available was thus replaced by the 32-year-old leg-spinner. Mishra last played a Test in 2011 and is making a return to the Indian team after four years. In the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy season, he played six matches for Haryana and took 10 wickets at an average of 20.40.
India’s chairman of selectors said, “Amit Mishra has always been part of our thinking. If you remember, even last year he was in the reserves [for the West Indies series]. The final authority of picking the XI is the role of the captain and the team management. Why A was not played and why B was picked it is not what we get into. Looking at the conditions, we have picked him for this SL tour. We have always tried to get the balance right and keep the wickets in mind. This is the best possible combination in our bowling department. We are happy that Harbhajan has come strong. We want the spin attack consisting of Mishra, Harbhajan and Ashwin to deliver.”
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was not considered because of fitness problems due to a knee surgery. KL Rahul, the Karnataka batsman, who had missed the Test in Bangladesh because of dengue fever returned to the squad. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay made hundreds in that game, leaving India with three openers to choose from.
The selectors did not pick a reserve wicketkeeper in the squad as back up for Wriddhiman Saha. “We have a standby wicketkeeper we have nominated. Secretary and selectors, we are aware who is the wicketkeeper nominated if there is injury on the SL tour.”
On being asked if wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is good enough to play at No.6 considering that Virat Kohli is in favour of playing five bowlers, Patil said, “Does he have the technique or not, time will tell. We have backed him looking at his performance in domestic cricket. The kind of experience he carries. You immediately cannot replace someone like Dhoni and come in and deliver the results. But we certainly feel that Wriddhiman is the right option and looking at his ability in batting as well, he should strike a good balance.”
At the end of the second day’s play between India A and Australia A at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, Mishra told the press: “No doubt I have more experience now. I have more experience in assessing how to bowl, how the partnership is going, how the wicket is and the style of batsmen. My bowling has improved along those lines and my thinking has also improved. I feel I have made the improvements I needed to make.”
Mishra also said that the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka will not be easy. “It will be a tough tour,” he said. “The Sri Lankan players, whoever is there, are good against spin. And the pitches are good for batting.”
Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, said Virat Kohli will play for India A in the second unofficial Test against Australia in Chennai from July 29-31. He said, “Virat Kohli had requested the selection committee for some match practice and wanted to play a game against Australia A. He will be playing the second four day game against Australia A.”
He also said that the current set-up of coaches, headed by Ravi Shastri, would continue to steer the team until the Board find a full-time coach. Shastri, who was on leave during the Zimbabwe series, will rejoin the Indian side in Sri Lanka.
India Squad for Sri Lanka tour: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron.
