With just four days remaining before the highly anticipated five-Test series between India and England kicks off, the BCCI is reportedly contemplating a late inclusion to the Indian Test squad. India A pacer Harshit Rana, who impressed in a warm-up match against England Lions by taking a wicket, has been asked to stay back in England, according to a report by Revsportz.
The Indian squad already features pace options such as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh. However, with Bumrah likely to miss some of the matches due to workload management, the BCCI is keeping backup options ready. Rana’s presence suggests that he could be drafted in if a need arises.
Meanwhile, India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had returned to India last week following his mother’s heart attack, will rejoin the squad on Tuesday in Leeds. The former Indian opener had missed the intra-squad match in Beckenham that concluded on Sunday. In his absence, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, along with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel, supervised the team’s preparations.
India, under captain Shubman Gill, is looking to secure its first Test series win in England since 2007. The series begins on June 20 in Leeds.
🧑🤝🧑 India’s Test Squad vs England:
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
