Chandigarh, May 11: Given that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have both informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about their retirement from Test cricket, one or two positions in the team for the longest format are expected to become available before the England tour. The BCCI is making every effort to persuade Kohli to reconsider his decision, even though captain Rohit’s departure has already been confirmed. However, the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has already begun searching for replacements for the seasoned duo. Sai Sudharsan, Gill’s colleague from his Gujarat Titans Indian Premier League (IPL) squad, is one name that has emerged as a top contender.
India A Squad and England Tour Team Announcement
According to reports, the India A team will be revealed early next week, while the main Indian squad for the England tour is expected to be announced by the end of the third week of May. Although Kohli’s final decision remains uncertain, the BCCI is making serious efforts to keep him in the squad, at least for the England tour.
Sai Sudharsan’s Likely Inclusion in Test Squad
During this period of uncertainty, reports indicate that Gujarat Titans’ opening batsman, Sai Sudharsan, is likely to be included in the squad. The Tamil Nadu southpaw, who has impressed in domestic and IPL matches, is expected to make his Test debut. If all goes as planned, he will either open the innings or bat at No. 3.
Kohli Considered for Test Captaincy
Additionally, reports suggest that the BCCI had considered offering Kohli the Test captaincy. The selectors contemplated this move to allow Shubman Gill more time to develop into a leader. However, Gill, being only 25 and a half years old, is emerging as the primary pick for captaincy, especially given Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness concerns. Despite these discussions, no official decision has been made on the subject yet.
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