Mohammed Shami, Rohit Sharma not picked for first 2 Tests against Australia

Mumbai: MSK Prasad-led selection panel on Tuesday retained the same Indian team that beat Bangladesh for the upcoming Test series against Australia at home.

The 16-member squad has been selected for the first two Tests. The Panel decided against picking batsman Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammad Shami. Both the players have recently returned from injuries.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra's injury-forced omission was the lone change.

Mishra had to sit out of the Bangladesh Test owing to a knee injury, which had prompted selectors to bring in Kuldeep Yadav as cover.

With Mishra still not fit, the selection committee, headed by MSK Parasad, retained Yadav in the 16-member squad

India and Australia are scheduled to play a four-match Test series, with the first Test beginning on February 23 in Pune.

India squad:

Virat Kohli (Captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, W Saha (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund and Hardik Pandya.

(With PTI inputs)