Hardik, Kuldeep miss out for WTC final, England Tests

Mumbai, India - There is no room for Hardik Pandya or Kuldeep Yadav in India's squad of 20 players, including two players - KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha - subject to 'fitness clearance', for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand and the subsequent five-Test series against England. India will play the WTC final from June 18-22 in Southampton and the Test series against England from August 4, starting in Nottingham, to September 14, with the last Test scheduled for Manchester. Keeping in mind the length of the tour as well as possible contingencies because of the COVID-19 pandemic, India are carrying a total of 24 players. Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari returned to the side after missing the recent home Tests against England because of their respective injuries.

Squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-capt), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wk; subject to fitness clearance). Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla.