India vs England: Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw added to Test squad as injuries mount

India on Saturday named Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw in the squad for the five-Test series against England. Both the batsman were among runs in the recently concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka, that India won 2-1. The board decided to fly them to England after three players were ruled out due to an injury.

Opener Shubman Gill, all-rounder Washington Sundar and pacer Avesh Khan have been forced out from the ongoing tour due to injuries. While Gill was ruled out due to shin splints suffered during the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, Khan dislocated a thumb during the warm-up game against County XI. Sundar aggravated his finger injury.

The Test series is due to start on August 4. The first Test will be played at Nottingham.

It is not clear though if Suryakumar, who has received his maiden Test call-up, and Shaw will be able to complete their hard quarantine in time to play the first match. With COVID-19 cases rising, the UK has imposed several lockdown and quarantine measures.

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Off-spinner Jayant Yadav had been named as Sundar’s replacement, but a senior BCCI official told PTI that only Suryakumar and Shaw are being flown to the UK as of now.

“Yes, Prithvi and Surya are flying to UK from Sri Lanka. Jayant was also supposed to go but there has been some change in plans due to quarantine requirements. Jayant is now not going. Both players will have a bubble to bubble transfer from Colombo to London. Whether they will fly in the middle of the T20 Internationals (Shaw and Suryakumar are part of team in Sri Lanka) or post that is being worked out,” the senior official told PTI.

Ahead of the first Test, India played a three-day warm-up game against Select County XI. Both the Indian bowlers and batsman put up assertive performances in the first-class game.