India vs England 2016: Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul released from India squad
India have released all-rounder Hardik Pandya and opening batsman KL Rahul from their present squad. The former has sustained an injury to his right shoulder while training with team in Mohali and hence has been released from the squad.
Rahul, who missed this Test after aggravating his hamstring injury has also been released. He is expected to be back for the Mumbai Test starting on the 8th of December.
Pandya was picked in the Test team after some impressive performances in the India A tour to Australia as well as the limited-overs series against New Zealand. Earlier in the year, he was part of the Indian team for the World T20 as well.
The Karnataka lad, on the other hand, suffered his hamstring injury during the opening Test of the series against New Zealand in Kanpur and missed the remainder of the three-match rubber.
He made a century for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy game against Team Rajasthan at Vizianagaram and was drafted into the squad ahead of the second Test against in Vizag. However, that return did not pan out too well for him as he was dismissed cheaply in both innings.
Rahul has had a good 2016, particularly after the Indian Premier League, having tasted success in all three formats of the game. He made a hundred on ODI debut in Zimbabwe, made a hundred against West Indies in Jamaica a few months later and then scored his maiden T20I hundred in Florida, while chasing 246 runs for a win.
Despite his ton, India fell short by one run as MS Dhoni could not finish off the chase in the final ball.