India Announces Squad for Australia Test Series with Surprising Picks

Rohit Sharma to lead as Abhimanyu Easwaran and newcomers Harshit Rana and Nitish Reddy join the squad; Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel left out.

Rohit Sharma will captain the 18-member Indian squad for the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, starting November 22 in Perth.
Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami is not included as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, despite being pain-free.
Uncapped players Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy earn spots in the squad, with Rana's selection heavily influenced by coach Gautam Gambhir.
Abhimanyu Easwaran is chosen as the backup opener over Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been in strong form but was controversially left out.
Washington Sundar is favored over Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, with the latter undergoing long-term rehabilitation for a groin injury.