Rohit Sharma to skip entire NZ Test series

New Delhi, November 11

Advertisement

India’s newly-appointed T20 captain Rohit Sharma is set to be rested from the two-match Test series against New Zealand while Test captain Virat Kohli will miss the opening match as a “mentally and physically exhausted” Team India gets down to workload management during the home assignment.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in the opening Test in Kanpur as Kohli extends his break after opting out of the three-match T20 series starting November 17 in Jaipur.

It is learnt from a reliable BCCI source that the squad has been finalised after a meeting of the selection committee today but a formal announcement is still awaited. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will also sit out both the Tests.

Rohit will take this break after leading the team in the T20 series. The first Test is scheduled to start on November 25 in Kanpur.

Kohli will be back for the second Test in Mumbai starting December 3. The Indian Test and ODI captain has spoken extensively about the bubble fatigue and how it has been taking a toll on the players mentally. In Pant’s absence, Wriddhiman Saha will take over the wicket-keeping duties with KS Bharath acting as the second keeper for the series. — PTI

Ashes: Ben Stokes trains along with rest of squad

Gold Coast: Ben Stokes joined the England squad for a training session for the first time after his six-month lay off from cricket at the Metrico stadium in the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, today. Stokes joined captain Joe Root and seniors like Stuart Broad in one of the first full training session for the players who have arrived early in Australia. Stokes was a late addition to the Ashes squad after the all-rounder had taken time off to recover from mental health issues as well as an injury to his finger.