Ishant Sharma was excluded from the test series, adding Natarajan to the ODI team.

Key points:

1.  The progress was confirmed by a statement on Thursday night by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
2. Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” stated the BCCI statement.
3. In addition, the statement provided an update on Rohit Sharma’s health.
4. Rohit Sharma is undergoing rehabilitation at N.C.A.

Senior Indian pacer Ishant Sharma is being ruled out from the coming 4-match Test series toward Australia in a big blow to the Indian cricket team. 

The progress was confirmed by a statement on Thursday night by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI statement: 

“Ishant has completely recovered from his side strain injury in the U.A.E. during I.P.L. 2020. While he is ramping up his schedule to achieve fitness for the test match, Mr Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” stated the BCCI statement.

T Natarajan to replace Ishant Sharma:

At the same time, a day ahead of the first match of the ODI series against Australia in Sydney, uncapped pacer T Natarajan was added to India’s ODI squad. 

After Navdeep Saini complained of back spasms, he was added to the squad as a back-up option.

“For the three-match ODI series towards Australia beginning on Friday, the All-India Senior Selection Committee has added T Natarajan to India’s squad,” read the release.

The statement further read, Navdeep Saini complained of a back spasm, and Natarajan was added as a back-up.

In addition, the statement provided an update on Rohit Sharma’s health.

Update on Rohit Sharma’s health:

At present, Rohit Sharma is undergoing rehabilitation at N.C.A. His next evaluation will be carried out on 11 December, after which the BCCI will have clarification on his involvement in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the BCCI statement reads.

After the I.P.L., Rohit had to return to Mumbai to care for his ailing father. His father is now doing well, allowing him to return to the N.C.A. and continue his rehabilitation,” the statement added further.

ODI team of India: Virat Kohli (C), Sanju Samson (W.K.), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (W.K.), Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, T Natarajan.