The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced an 18-member Indian cricket team squad for the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The series, which begins on November 22 in Perth, will feature matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
While the squad boasts a strong bowling lineup, there are notable absences, including Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner, was unavailable for selection due to a chronic left groin issue. He had featured in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru but was replaced by Washington Sundar in the second contest.
BCCI clarified that Yadav has been referred to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for long-term resolution of his injury.
Mohammed Shami, who last played in the ODI World Cup in November 2023, has not recovered from a knee injury in time. Despite assurances of being fit, he has not been included in the squad.
Axar Patel, on the other hand, has been named in the T20 squad that will travel to South Africa for a four-match series starting next month.
Despite these absences, India’s bowling lineup remains formidable. The squad includes Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a prestigious series between India and Australia, and both teams will be eager to claim victory. India will be looking to retain the trophy, which they won in 2018-19.
