India vs Sri Lanka: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan released from Test squad, Vijay Shankar earns call-up

New Delhi: Rookie Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar has been drafted in the Indian squad for the second Test with seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and opener Shikhar Dhawan being released from the squad. [caption id=“attachment_4220153” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar gestures to his teammates during the Kolkata Test against Sri Lanka. AP[/caption] While Bhuvneshwar will not be available for the next two Tests due to his marriage, Shikhar will be available for the third Test after tending to personal matter. “The BCCI would like to inform that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan have been released from India’s Test team. The duo made a request to the selectors and the team management to release them owing to personal reasons,” the statement said. “Kumar will not take any further part in the ongoing Paytm Test series against Sri Lanka and the All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Vijay Shankar as his replacement. Dhawan is available for selection for the third Test,” it further stated. Shankar is not expected to play in the second Test as Murali Vijay is the reserve opener in the squad and Ishant Sharma is the third pacer. However this is the maiden call-up for the Tamil Nadu One Day captain, who has scored 1671 runs and taken 27 wickets in 32 first-class matches. He has been playing for India A for some time and also is next in line after Hardik Pandya as the seam bowling all-rounder. India Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar.