All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who did not feature in the playing eleven in the first two Tests, was released from the Indian squad on Thursday with selectors retaining other 15 members for the remaining two games against Australia. Pandya will play for Baroda in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The 23-year-old was released during the first Test as well and he played three league games. With the Ranchi wicket expected to be on the slower side, there was very little possibility of Pandya making the cut in the playing eleven.
Opener Murali Vijay, who missed the second Test match due to a shoulder injury, has been kept in the squad of 15 and is expected to get fit before the start of the third Test in Ranchi from 16 March.
First choice opener Vijay is expected to replace Abhinav Mukund, who failed in both the innings of the second Test at Bangalore.
India’s squad for the last two Test against Australia: Virat Kohli (Captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, W Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.
(With inputs from PTI)