Virat Kohli set to return home post-Adelaide Test, Rohit Sharma included in the squad

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced vital changes to the squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Skipper Virat Kohli will return home after the first Test, while Rohit Sharma has been included in the contingent for all the three series – T20 Internationals, One Day Internationals and Tests.

Kohli is set to return home to be with wife Anushka Sharma as the duo are expecting their first child in January next year. The BCCI has granted paternity leave to Kohli.

Kohli won’t be available after the 1st Test match at Adelaide. He will, however, be leading the Indian side in the three-match ODI and T20I series, scheduled between November 27 and December 8, and the first Test.

After the culmination of the white-ball series, India will lock horns with the Baggy Greens to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

BCCI also announced the return of vice-captain Rohit Sharma in the Indian Test squad for their trip Down Under. Earlier, the ‘Hitman’ wasn’t included in the Indian squad which was announced on 26th October.

Rohit did not take part in any cricketing action between 18th October to 3rd November for the Mumbai Indians (MI), in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), due to an injury.

It was only during MI’s final round-robin league game that Rohit made a comeback into the scheme of things.

After decent performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2020, rookie spinner Varun Chakravarthy earned his maiden call-up into the Indian team for the T20I squad.

However, the Tamil Nadu spinner has been ruled out of the tour after succumbing to a shoulder injury. The selection committee also included Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson for the ODI squad.

Samson, who had a decent outing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2020, was also part of the Indian T20 side, which played against New Zealand earlier this year.

The decisions were taken at a senior selection committee meeting on Sunday, the statement said. The committee picked the replacements after receiving injury reports and updates from the BCCI medical team.

1. Virat Kohli – At the selection committee meeting held on October 26th, 2020, Mr Virat Kohli had informed the BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first Test in Adelaide. The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.
2. Rohit Sharma – The BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s fitness and has briefed All-India Senior Selection Committee on the same. In consultation with Mr Sharma, it has been decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness and he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
3. Sanju Samson – The Selection Committee has added Sanju Samson as an additional wicket-keeper to India’s ODI squad.
4. Ishant Sharma – The senior Indian fast bowler has been undergoing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Once he fully recovers and gains sufficient match fitness, he will be added to India’s Test squad.
5. Varun Chakravarthy – The spinner has been ruled out of the T20I series owing to a shoulder injury. The selectors have named T Natarajan as a replacement.
6. Mr Wriddhiman Saha – The senior Indian wicket-keeper sustained injuries to both his hamstrings during his side’s IPL game on 3rd November. A call on his availability will be taken later.
7. Mr Kamlesh Nagarkoti – The young fast bowler will not be able to travel to Australia as he is still working with the medical team on his bowling workload management.