All-rounder Hardik Pandya rested from Virat Kohli's India for Tests vs Sri Lanka
Hardik Pandya his Test debut for India during the first Test against Sri Lanka in July during their Island nation tour.
Mumbai: Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was on Friday rested for the upcoming first two Tests against Sri Lanka, starting on November 16.
Pandya was a part of Virat Kohli’s India side which defeated both Australia and New Zealand in the ODI and T20 series, and has been an important player in the side.
The 24-year-old made his Test debut for India during the first Test against Sri Lanka in July during their Island nation tour. He had a debut to remember, scoring a fifty and taking a wicket in the match.
"The All-India Senior Selection Committee in consultation with the Indian team management has decided to rest all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the upcoming Paytm Test series against Sri Lanka. Mr Pandya was named in the squad for the first two Tests," the BCCI said.
"Considering Mr Pandya's heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern. Mr Pandya will undergo a period of strength and conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru," the source added.
The Men in Blue will play host to Sri Lanka, as both the teams get ready to face off in the first Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on November 16. The three Tests will be followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is with the tour ending on December 24.
The last time these two teams met in a bilateral series was as recent as in July, when India remained unbeaten across all formats, and outplayed the Lankan tigers.
India Test squad for the first two Tests: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.