INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, 2018-19

Pandya, Agarwal named in India Test squad for remainder of series

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Hardik Pandya returns to the India Test side having recovered from his back injury © Getty

The Indian Test team has received a boost in the form of Hardik Pandya, who will join the side in Australia for the remainder of the Test series, having recovered from his lower back injury which he suffered during the Asia Cup earlier this year. Pandya featured in Baroda's Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium and bagged seven wickets, including a fifer, apart from stroking a half century.

However, as a further setback for the embattled Indian batting line-up at the top of the order, Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out for the entire series. Mayank Agarwal, who was part of the India Test squad for the recent series against the Windies - without getting a game - has been named as his replacement.

India squad for the third and fourth Tests: Virat Kohli (c), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal.

Shaw suffered an ankle injury while attempting to take a catch during India's practice game against Cricket Australia XI. While India had expressed hope of a speedy recovery and his possible participation for the third Test starting on Boxing Day at the MCG, the extent of the injury for the 19-year-old is such that it will keep him out of the entire series.

Meanwhile, India have retained both Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, who were ruled out of the ongoing second Test in Perth due to injuries.

© Cricbuzz

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