Pandya, Yadav miss out on WTC final

The Black Caps need not do any homework on all-rounder Hardik Pandya or wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ahead of next month’s World Test Championship final.

They were the main omissions from India’s 20-man squad named to face New Zealand in the June 18-22 decider in Southampton and the following five-test series against England.

Opening batsman KL Rahul and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha also face fitness clearances before taking their places.

Rahul has had surgery for appendicitis after complaining of ‘‘severe abdomen pain’’ during the IPL, but is expected to resume all activity this week.

Saha tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. The 36-year-old, who will be the backup gloveman to Rishabh Pant, is still in Delhi and is understood to face 14 days in isolation and return a negative test before being able to fly.

Seamer Mohammed Shami, spinning allrounder Ravindra Jadeja and middle order batsman Hanuma Vihari return to the squad after missing the 3-1 home series win against England in February-March because of injuries.

Pandya and Yadav are the two casualties from the squad for that series.

Other omissions included seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar – who has 21 tests to his name, though, while remaining a frontliner in the white-ball formats, hasn’t featured in the whites in more than three years – along with batsman Prithvi Shaw, 21, who scored a half century in New Zealand the summer before last.