Shubman Gill "Honoured" After Being Picked For South Africa Test Series
Shubman Gill received his maiden Test call-up as the BCCI named India's squad for the three-match series against South Africa.
Highlights
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Shubman Gill has replaced KL Rahul in India's Test squad
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India announced 15-member squads for Test series against South Africa
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India are set to play three-match Test series against South Africa
Shubman Gill received his maiden Test call-up on Thursday as the Board of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) on Thursday announced India's Test squad for the three-match series against South Africa. Even after sweeping the series against the West Indies, opening batsman, KL Rahul failed to keep his place in the squad. The selectors decided to replace the 27-year-old batsman with young Shubman Gill. The 20-year-old took to Twitter to express his views after being picked in the Test team for the first time. "Be it blue or white It's always an honour to represent my country," Gill tweeted.
Be it blue or white
— Shubman Gill (@RealShubmanGill) September 12, 2019
It's always an honour to represent my country pic.twitter.com/qfWMpwsMsw
India off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin also took to Twitter to congratulate Gill on being picked in the Test team.
Well done @RealShubmanGill , congrats.#indiantestteam
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) September 12, 2019
After announcing the Test squad, chief selector, MSK Prasad told media that the management is looking to try Rohit Sharma at the opening slot after KL Rahul's poor run. "We want to give Rohit Sharma an opportunity to open the innings in Tests," MSK Prasad said.
India are currently on top of the points table in the Test World Championship with 120 points.
Fast bowler, Umesh Yadav, who was in the squad for the recently concluded tour of the West Indies, was also dropped.Â
Rohit will captain the Board President's XI, which will take on the South Africans in a three-day tour match in Vizianagaram from September 26.
The 20-year-old Gill's inclusion was on expected lines after he top-scored for India A in the tour of West Indies and was adjudged man of the series. He became the youngest Indian to score a first-class double hundred during the series. His exclusion from the senior team for the tour of the West Indies last month was widely criticised.Â
India's squad for 3 Tests: Virat Kohli (Capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk),Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill.
(With PTI inputs)
India Cricket Team
Rohit Sharma
KL Rahul