India confirm squad for World Test Championship final and England series

Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari return but there is no place for Hardik Pandya or Kuldeep Yadav. KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha are included despite fitness concerns

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India have confirmed a 20-strong squad for the World Test Championship final and subsequent series against England.

Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari both return after injuries ruled them out of the clashes with Joe Root's side in February and March.

While Jadeja missed England's entire multi-format tour after surgery on a thumb problem suffered in Australia, Vihari is fully recovered from a hamstring tear and has joined Warwickshire in the County Championship.

There is no place for out-of-form pair Hardik Pandya or Kuldeep Yadav.

KL Rahul underwent surgery for appendicitis earlier this month and his fitness will be assessed before a decision over his participation is made.

The same goes for Wriddhiman Saha, who was among the IPL players to test positive for Covid-19, leading to the tournament being postponed.

India face New Zealand in the WTC final at The Ageas Bowl on June 18-22.

They then take on England in five Tests at Trent Bridge (August 4-8), Lord's (August 12-16), Headingley (August 25-29), The Kia Oval (September 2-6) and Emirates Old Trafford (September 10-14).

India squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk). 

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla

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