India vs England Test 2024 - India's squad for the first two test against England announced

India vs England Test- India's team for first two match announced- Where is Ishan Kishan?  Dhruv Jurel got maiden call up for Test and some exiting names

BCCI on 12 January announced the Indian squad for the first two test matches of five match Test series against England.

India will play 5 match Test series against England from 25 January

Currently India is at the top of World Test Championship (WTC) points table. This 5 match test series against England will be very important in terms of India's chance for the WTC Final 2025. Indian team will play 1st match of 5 match test series on January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

New faces in the squad 

In a significant development, Uttar Pradesh's promising wicketkeeper-batter, Dhruv Jurel, has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian national cricket team. The 16-member squad, announced by the senior selection committee, sees Jurel slotting in as the third wicketkeeping option behind the established duo of KL Rahul and KS Bharat. Jurel's inclusion is particularly notable as the selectors have opted to overlook Ishan Kishan for the first two Tests against England. The young cricketer from Uttar Pradesh has shown great promise in domestic cricket, and his call-up is a testament to the selectors' faith in his abilities. India's pace battery has also witnessed a notable addition, with Avesh Khan earning a place in the squad. The pace attack will be spearheaded by the designated vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, with Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar providing additional options in the fast bowling department.

Here is the Team India's squad for the first two Tests against England-

Rohit Sharma (C ), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.

Some missing names in squad

 Unfortunately, Prasidh Krishna, who made his debut in South Africa, is set to miss the upcoming Tests due to a quadriceps injury. The injury occurred on the first day of Karnataka's Ranji fixture against Gujarat in Ahmedabad, forcing Prasidh to leave the field.

The selectors have taken a cautious approach with the experienced Mohammed Shami, choosing not to rush him back into the squad after injury. It is understood that Shami is likely to be considered for the latter part of the five-match series against England. Mohammed Shami recently got Arjuna Award from President of India. 

Ishan Kishan case is getting some attention from the fans as he is not included in the squad this time also. Is it clear indication that Ishan Kishan has to play Domestic Cricket now to comeback into Indian squad or is it a strategy of Indian team to miss an left handed batsman as the current squad has many left handers like Axar, Jadeja, Kuldeep  in the current squad who will definitely play . Only team management will answer about Ishan Kishan's omission from squad.

India's strategy in the upcoming series against England will heavily rely on its spin department in home conditions. Kuldeep Yadav has been selected to provide cover for the regular spinners - R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. The spin quartet will play a crucial role in the team's efforts to outclass the English side.

Gill and Iyer to be noticed in this series

All eyes are on Shubman Gill as concerns linger over his performance in Test cricket. While the young batsman has solidified his place in limited-overs formats, his struggles in Tests have raised questions. Despite an impressive century against Australia in Ahmedabad, Gill has faced difficulties, scoring above 30 only once in nine innings. With competition from players like Rajat Patidar and Abhimanyu Easwaran, his Test spot might be in jeopardy if the poor form persists. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer, despite concerns, is seen as a potential trump card for India in the middle-order, especially with his strong record against spinners in home conditions.

The 16-member squad, with the inclusion of Dhruv Jurel and Avesh Khan, reflects a blend of experience and youthful exuberance. As the team prepares to face England, the cricketing fraternity eagerly anticipates the performances of these talented individuals, hoping for a successful campaign in the challenging Test series.