India Test Squad for Australia tour announced: The Indian selectors have announced the Test squad for the tour of Australia.

The Indian selectors have handed respective comebacks to limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma, opening batsman Murali Vijay and wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel for the upcoming tour of Australia.

The mammoth 18-member squad also features Indian pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma, all of whom were not part of the Test side which faced Windies at home earlier this month.

While Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah were handed rest post the Asia Cup, Ishant remained injury since the tour of England. With Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav in the ranks as well, India will fly down under with a potent five-man pace attack.

Among the spinners, the selectors have named the trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.

Prithvi Shaw, who was adjourned the Man of the Series in his debut series against Windies, has been named for the series as opening batsman alongside Vijay and Lokesh Rahul.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, whose game was suited for the conditions in Australia, has not been named because he has not ‘fully recovered’ from the injury sustained during the Asia Cup.

Among the major players to make a comeback, Rohit had last played a Test for India against South Africa in Centurion earlier this year. Having not been selected for the home series against Windies, him making the cut for the Australia tour was unexpected.

However, as per Chairman of Selectors MSK Prasad, his back-foot play has come to his rescue. “We felt that Rohit’s nature of play, a very good back-foot player, is suited for Australia,” Prasad said of including Rohit.

Vijay, who was dropped midway of the England tour, had registered scores of 56, 100, 85 and 80 in three matches during his stint for Essex in the fag end of the English County season. “M Vijay had been dropped from England, but he went back to counties and performed and showed his intent,” Prasad said of the 34-year old Vijay’s comeback.

Patel, who was mediocre with the bat in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, has been selected as the second wicket-keeper after Rishabh Pant and ahead of Dinesh Karthik, who had played two Test matches in England earlier this year.

India Squad for tour of Australia:

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