Fifteen-member squad announced; BCCI rests all-rounder keeping his workload in mind

The national selection committee has acceded to the request of the Indian team management -perhaps on the advice of team physio Patrick Farhart - to rest Hardik Pandya for the entire three-Test series against Sri Lanka.

The Baroda all-rounder is reported to have hurt a finger on his left hand during the final T20I against New Zealand at Thiruvananthapuram, when attempting to stop a shot from Colin de Grandhomme off his own bowling. Pandya appeared to be in excruciating pain after being hit, but completed the over.

The selection committee has not named a replacement.

“The team doesn’t want to aggravate a niggle into a grade-1 or -2 tear. India is scheduled to play South Africa from early next year. Hardik has been playing all formats. He can always be considered for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka,” said a BCCI source.

A BCCI press release said: “The all-India senior selection committee, in consultation with the Indian team management, has decided to rest all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the upcoming Paytm Test series against Sri Lanka. Mr. Pandya was named in the squad for the first two Tests. Considering Mr. Pandya’s recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern.”

Squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), K.L Rahul, M. Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.