India have released fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj and batsman Hanuma Vihari from their squad to let the dup take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts.
Both the players were part of the squad for the ongoing series against West Indies. However, they could not make it to the playing eleven in the first Test as well as the ongoing second game in Hyderabad.
Mohammed Siraj earned a call-up to the Test squad for the series on the back of an impressing showing for India A. He recently took 8 for 59 in an innings against Australia. It was his third five-wicket haul in his last four first-class innings. Since his average outing in the Indian Premier League, he took a staggering 37 wickets in just 8 innings for India A.
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On the other hand, Vihari had received his maiden Test call-up during the series against England. He made his debut in the final Test and impressed straightaway. In addition to taking some handy wickets, he also scored a gritty fifty. But while he managed to retain his spot in the Test squad, he lost his place in the playing eleven.
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In Mohammed Siraj and Vihari’s absence, India have called up Manish Pandey and Shubman Gill as substitutes. The duo, however, will play no part in the game and will just spend some valuable time in the dressing room.
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Siraj and Vihari, on the other hand, will go head to head against each other in the quarterfinal clash between Hyderabad and Andhra. The game will be played at the Just Cricket Academy Ground in Bengaluru on October 15.
Coming to the ongoing Test, the game is finely poised at the time of lunch on day three. In reply to West Indies’ 311, India began the day on 308 for 4. However, they lost their remaining 6 wickets for just 59 runs to be bowled out for 367.