INDIA have named a 16-man squad with no surprises for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia that starts next week in Pune.
Fresh from a 208-run hammering of Bangladesh in their one-off Test in Hyderabad, captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday headlined the same squad from that clash that will be aiming to inflict more pain for Australia in the subcontinent.
Mitch Swepson: ‘They’ll do their research’0:48
Cricket: He’s a virtual unknown, but Mitch Swepson is sure India will be doing their homework on Australia’s newest legspinner.
Australia’s 3-0 Test series defeat to Sri Lanka in August was their third straight whitewash loss in Asia after a 2-0 defeat to Pakistan in the UAE in 2014 and a 4-0 drubbing in India a year earlier.
India, on the other hand, are on a 19-Test unbeaten streak.
That undefeated run is the best in Test cricket since Australia went 22 matches without a loss between September 2005 and January 2008.
In their last 20 Tests at home, India have recorded 17 wins and three draws.
Handscomb to combat spin 0:44
Cricket: With less than two weeks before Australia’s first test in India, there’s one question on everyone’s lips.
India’s squad has been named for the first two Tests — the series opener in Pune starting next Thursday with the second Test in Bangalore from March 4.
India squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya.
Originally published as Kohli leads strong India squad to play Australia
