India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has transitioned to red-ball cricket mode as he gears up for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Recently leading India to a clean sweep of Afghanistan in a T20I series, Rohit showcased his batting prowess with a record-breaking century.
Mumbai Indians, Rohit’s IPL franchise, shared glimpses of his net practice sessions, indicating his preparation for the Test series starting on January 25 in Hyderabad.
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In Test matches against England, Rohit boasts a solid record, amassing 747 runs in 17 innings with an average of 49.80, including two centuries and three half-centuries. His performance at home is particularly impressive, scoring 2,002 runs in 24 Tests at an outstanding average of 66.73, featuring eight centuries and six fifties, with a highest individual score of 212.
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The England team, led by Ben Stokes, has arrived in India after an extended training camp in Abu Dhabi. Opting for preparation in the Middle East rather than acclimatizing to Indian conditions through tour games, the English side is gearing up for a challenging series.
India, however, will miss the services of fast bowler Mohammed Shami for the first two Tests due to an ankle injury. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has received a maiden Test call-up and is part of the 16-man squad led by Rohit. As part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, the five-match series holds significance for both teams.
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India, two-time WTC runners-up, began the current cycle with a 1-0 Test series win against West Indies and drew a two-match series 1-1 against South Africa. This series marks their third assignment in the WTC cycle. England, having hosted Australia for the Ashes last year, leveled the series 2-2 after losing the first two Tests, making this their second series in the cycle.
India squad for first two Tests vs England: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), KS Bharat (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan
