India names 18-member squad for Australia Test series, features three uncapped players

India has announced its 18-member squad for the upcoming five-Test series against Australia, set to begin on November 22. The squad features three uncapped players: opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, fast bowler Harshit Rana, and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, marking an exciting opportunity for these emerging talents.

Rohit Sharma will captain the team, with Jasprit Bumrah serving as vice-captain. The absence of seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami is notable, as he continues to recover from ankle surgery. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is also out of the lineup due to a chronic left groin issue. This has led to the inclusion of Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed as traveling reserves, providing additional depth to the bowling unit.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has shown impressive form domestically, scoring multiple centuries in the Duleep Trophy and the Ranji Trophy. He is expected to fill in for Rohit Sharma, who may miss the first Test for personal reasons. Nitish Kumar Reddy, at just 21, is the only seam-bowling all-rounder in the squad and is already in Australia with the India A team, gaining valuable experience before the Tests. Harshit Rana, a promising fast bowler with a strong first-class record, adds further pace options to the squad.

The series will begin with a warm-up match against India A in Perth from November 15 to 17, followed by the first Test at Perth Stadium from November 22 to 26. India will then face the Prime Minister's XI in a tour match before continuing the Test series across various Australian venues, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.