Australia series: Hardik Pandya out of India Test squad for last 2 Tests

New Delhi, March 9: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday (March 9) announced a 15-member Indian squad for the remaining 2 Tests against Australia. All-rounder Hardik Pandya was the lone man omitted from the line-up due to injury.

Photos; Australian media criticises Kohli" title="Series schedule; Photos; Australian media criticises Kohli" />Series schedule; Photos; Australian media criticises Kohli

The selection committee named the 15-member squad for remainder of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 4-match series stands at 1-1.

Pandya, who did not feature in the playing XI in the first two Tests, was the only player to be released. He has shoulder problems.

Opener Murali Vijay, who suffered a shoulder injury and missed the second Test in Bengaluru has been retained in the squad of 15 and is expected to get fit before the start of the third Test in Ranchi from March 16.

First choice opener Vijay is expected to replace Abhinav Mukund, who failed in both the innings. Kohli will be leading Team India in the remaining two Tests in Ranchi and Dharamsala. At present, India and Australia are levelled 1-1 in the two matches held so far.

Australia thrashed India by 333 runs in the first Test in Pune while hosts defeated vistiors by 75 runs in the second game in Bengaluru.

India will face Australia in the 3rd Test from March 16-20 (Thursday to Monday) in Ranchi (JSCA Stadium).

The fourht Test will be held between March 25 and 29 (Saturday to Wednesday) at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

Here is the 15-member India squad

Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.

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