Fri Oct 25 21:11:09 UTC 2024: **Summary of News Article:**
– **Uncapped Players Selected**: India has included three uncapped players in the squad for the five-Test tour of Australia starting November 22: opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, fast bowler Harshit Rana, and allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
– **Injury Updates**: Mohammed Shami is absent due to fitness issues following ankle surgery, and Kuldeep Yadav is out due to a chronic groin injury.
– **Squad Leadership**: Rohit Sharma will lead the team with Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain. Rohit may miss a Test for personal reasons, which could allow Easwaran to make his debut.
– **Easwaran’s Form**: At 29, Easwaran has shown impressive form in domestic cricket, scoring multiple hundreds in recent tournaments.
– **Bowling Options**: The squad features three spin allrounders (R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar) and a mix of fast bowlers including Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. Rana, who is 22, has had a strong domestic record but limited experience.
– **Tour Schedule**: India will begin the tour with a warm-up match against India A in Perth from November 15 to 17, followed by the first Test against Australia at Perth Stadium from November 22 to 26.
– **Reserves Noted**: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed will serve as reserves for the tour.
This article outlines India’s preparations and squad selection for the upcoming challenging tour in Australia, highlighting emerging players and addressing injury concerns.
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