New Delhi, July 23: Leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been recalled to the Indian Test squad for the next month's Sri Lanka tour. The 15-man squad will be led by Virat Kohli. The selection committee, headed by Sandeep Patil, picked the squad here on Thursday.
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India will play 3 Tests in Sri Lanka. Opener KL Rahul, who missed the one-off Test against Bangladesh due to dengue, also returns to the squad. Mishra, who has played 13 Tests, has come into the squad in place of another leg-spinner Karn Sharma, who is injured and missed the limited overs tour to Zimbabwe this month.
Mishra has been included as the 3rd spinner along with Harbhajan Singh and R Ashwin. The 32-year-old Mishra had last played a Test in August 2011, against England.
"Amit Mishra was always in the scheme of things. Last year also he was in reserves. The final XI though is decided by the captain. Looking at the conditions we have picked him for this tour," the chairman of selection committee Patil told reporters after the meeting.
"Pragyan (Ojha) was discussed but only 15 players can be selected. Looking at the conditions we have given preference to Mishra," he added.
Patil said Karn and paceman Mohammed Shami have still not recovered from their respective injuries that is why "their names were not discussed."
"We always try to get the balance right. This is the best combination for the Sri Lanka tour."
The first Test of the series starts in Colombo on August 12.
India Test squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron.
In - KL Rahul, Amit Mishra
Out - Karn Sharma
India tour of Sri Lanka schedule
August 3 (Monday) - Team India to arrive in Colombo
August 6 to 8 (Thursday to Saturday) - 3-day practice match (R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo)
August 12 to 16 (Wednesday to Sunday) - 1st Test in Galle
August 20 to 24 (Thursday to Monday) - 2nd Test in Colombo (Tamil Union Oval)
August 28 to September 1 (Friday to Tuesday) - 3rd and final Test in Colombo (Sinhalese Sports Club)
September 2 (Wednesday) - Departure to India
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