Twitterati excited to see Rishabh Pant in the Indian Test squad for the England tour

The Indian selectors announced the Test squad for the five-match series in England. When the selectors met to figure out the best possible names to represent the team for the challenge they had a few questions to answer. The fitness of two of their key pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah remained a concern, while Bumrah missed out on the T20I and ODI series’ Bhuvi played the 3rd ODI only to aggravate his injury.

India’s Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is out with an injury and thus MSK Prasad & Co. picked Dinesh Karthik as his replacement. For the backup keeper option while Parthiv Patel who played two Tests on the tour of South Africa wasn’t considered instead young Rishabh Pant has been picked in the 18-man squad.

They left out middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma and extended faith on Karun Nair who is leading the India A team in the unofficial Test series against England Lions. Rohit has always done well in white-ball cricket but has had a stop-start Test career, where he hasn’t delivered and the team hasn’t given him an extended run similar to what he was accorded in the limited-overs format.

Mohammed Shami who missed out on a spot in the squad for the Afghanistan Test due to the yo-yo test cleared it and was picked. The batting department led by skipper Virat Kohli has nine names including two keeper-batsmen.

Considering the conditions in England and the extended summer, there are three spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. It is quite likely that the team will field two spinners but will be a decision based on the pitch for each game more than anything else. The pace attack will be led by Ishan Sharma who is the most experienced of them all then there is Bumrah, Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to the Indian Test selection:

Fan of Rohit Sharma but honestly, not surprised that selectors have decided to look again at Karun Nair.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 18, 2018

This team selection is a biased one. Rohit Sharma deserved a place & so did Wriddhiman Saha. Why Karun Nair because he is from South.

— ravib_ravi (@ravibhatia2901) July 18, 2018

Tbh I would have played rohit sharma in tests as well, looking at his current form. Karun hasn't had a great run since that 3hundred!

— Amol Karke (@Imamol97) July 18, 2018

Finally after a lot of bunches of bad performances, selectors realizes that Rohit Sharma is not capable for Test squad for #TeamIndia . Finally . #ENGvIND

— chetan (@Be_chetan) July 18, 2018

This is too bad. Bcci should have given place to Rohit

— SAI YASH (@saiyash60) July 18, 2018

Good to see Rishabh Pant, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep yadav and karun nair earned their call to the Indian Test team..

— Jameshubert  (@ImJames_) July 18, 2018

Rishabh pant in the test squad #ENGvIND
Me ryt now pic.twitter.com/H9FlBcum8I

— Deepak Reddy (@deepakreddy1233) July 18, 2018

Kuldeep Yadav, Dinesh Karthik obvious and expected selections!
But, Rishabh Pant & Shardul Thakul are a surprise!#INDvENG

— Shreyas Srinivasan (@ShreyasS_) July 18, 2018

Rishabh Pant in Test? Are you kidding me?

— Nishant Jha (@keshav02896) July 18, 2018

Rishabh Pant atlast receives a maiden call for the test squad .Good choice! @BCCI #ENGvIND

— Mithun (@mithun2210) July 18, 2018

Bold move to drop Rohit Sharma.. Has struggled against the moving ball quite a lot! Glad to see Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant in the team!

— Amruth R (@Amruth_R0907) July 18, 2018

Rishabh pant and rahane should have been there in limited overs squad but you guys chose Raina and iyer… please don't ask the coach's suggestions…he is an idiot who wants the team to play positive cricket but doesn't choose the correct squad to play such a style of cricket

— Dexter morgan (@RamNiteesh) July 18, 2018

He played match winning knock of 67 not out in the test against Windies A team and is currently playing well again against England A team. I think he is ready for the test matches! Well done sir @RaviShastriOfc and team management for selecting Rishabh Pant.🔥👏

— Shivam (@itsShivam18) July 18, 2018

Big call-up for Rishabh Pant. Buzz around him.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 18, 2018

Excellent decision to have Rishabh Pant as the second wicketkeeper on tour. Has been in England with India A, played games and has made vital contributions.

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) July 18, 2018

Rishabh Pant in Test squads vs England!
Though it’s unlikely to get a nod in playing 11 ahead of DK, this was a brave move.
Time will surely tell us whether it is a right move!#ENGvIND

— Sai Veer (@SaiVeer07) July 18, 2018

first Test call up for Rishabh Pant, he is the back-up keeper to Dinesh Karthik. Rohit Sharma continues to be out

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 18, 2018

What about @ImRo45 Sharma ji 😠….He is in good form,team selection not fair

— @ajay (@ajaykumarpondal) July 18, 2018

So Rohit Sharma, All Formats Legend with Grade A Contract, Dropped 😂#ENGvIND #TeamIndia Test Squad

— Ajay Kedia (@ajayamar7) July 18, 2018

One less headache for @imVkohli to try and fit in @ImRo45 in the playing 11
Bhuvi..is a shocker

— Cricketology (@Cricketology1) July 18, 2018

How can Rohit Sharma not get in that team – blimey

— Mark Shepherd (@HillingdonPosh) July 18, 2018

Here is the Indian squad for the first three Tests against England: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur.

For all the latest cricket news and other updates follow CricTracker.