England in India: Hosts pick four spinners but Mohammed Shami remains out
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Shami took 24 wickets in seven matches at an average of 10.70 at the 2023 World Cup in India
India v England Test series |
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Dates: 25 January - 11 March |
Venues: Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi & Dharamsala |
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app |
Seamer Mohammed Shami has not been included in India's squad to play the first two Tests against England as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Shami has not played since the World Cup in November, where he starred with 24 wickets, but had been targeting a return against England, external.
In his absence, India have picked four spinners - Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav.
Uncapped pair Avesh Khan and Dhruv Jurel are also in the 16-strong squad.
Seamer Avesh has played eight one-day internationals and 19 T20s for India while Dhurel is uncapped in all formats.
He will compete for the gloves with KL Rahul, who kept in India's recent drawn series against South Africa, and KS Bharat.
India have not lost a home Test series since England's victory in 2012.
England have picked uncapped spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley, plus quick Gus Atkinson in their squad.
The first of five Tests begins on 25 January in Hyderabad.
The second Test follows from 2 February in Visakhapatnam before matches in Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala.
India squad for first two Tests: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Avesh Khan.