India recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar for remainder of Test series against England

India have included Bhuvneshwar Kumar in their 16-man squad for the final three home Test matches against England. The fast bowler missed out on selection for the opening draw in Rajkot and the recent 246-run victory in Visakhapatnam having not played any first-class matches since his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained against New Zealand last month.

Kumar recently returned to action for Uttar Pradesh, however, taking just two wickets for 80 runs during a Ranji Trophy Group A defeat to Mumbai.

With Kumar recalled, India have elected to drop Gautam Gambhir ahead of those upcoming contests in Mohali, Mumbai and Chennai. The veteran opener, partnering Murali Vijay due to the respective absences of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul, scored just 29 across two innings in the first Test. He was promptly replaced by Rahul, who managed only 10 after proving his fitness following a hamstring strain.

Dhawan, who suffered a minor thumb fracture in the second Test against New Zealand, remains absent despite impressing alongside Gambhir for Delhi during the early stages of their match with Rajasthan.

Sharma, meanwhile, was ruled out for the entire England series due to a thigh muscle injury sustained in a series-clinching one-day international defeat of the Black Caps in Vizag. He was initially expected to be sidelined for a period of between six to eight weeks and, having been initially unsure as to whether or not he would need to go under the knife, had successful surgery on his right upper quadriceps tendon in London earlier this month following a consultation with specialists.

He is now thought to be set to miss around three months. In addition to the remaining trio of Tests against England, such a lay-off would also include a three-match ODI series against the same opposition in January. India then also take on Trevor Bayliss' side in a T20 international triple-header as part of a lengthy winter tour that ends on 1 February 2017.