Rohit Sharma. Pic/ AFP
A fit-again batsman Rohit Sharma expectedly returned to the side as national selectors offered no surprises in the 15-member Indian cricket squad for next month’s Champions Trophy in England.
Rohit, after recovering from a thigh injury he sustained during the Test series against England last year, has replaced opener K L Rahul, who has been laid low by a shoulder injury. Manish Pandey has been drafted in as an extra batsman in the 15-member squad, to be led by Virat Kohli. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be the wicket-keeper in the side.
Overall, the selectors kept faith in the squad which defeated England in a home series earlier this year. India will play their Champions Trophy lung-opener against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 4. The event itself will get underway on June 1.
The Squad:
Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Manish Pandey.