Suryakumar Yadav's incredible exploits in T20I cricket have propelled him into the Test arena as well with the 32-year old batter picked in a 17-member squad to play for India against Australia. The squad, picked for only the first two of four Tests, includes another player who has made his name in the white-ball circuit. Ishan Kishan has come into the side with first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in recovery after a car accident.

India go into the Border-Gavaskar series, starting on February 9, without the spearhead of their bowling attack with Jasprit Bumrah stuck on the sidelines. Not so long ago, it looked like he was ready to return to cricket again after recovering from a stress reaction in his back. But in the process of getting himself used to a normal workload again, he felt stiffness in his right glute and now has been advised at least another month's rehabilitation.

Ravindra Jadeja, though, may be coming out of his own long-term injury lay-off. The left-arm spin-bowling allrounder has been picked in the squad and will likely have a huge role to play in a home series where India need to win 3-1 or better to be assured of a place in the World Test Championship final. Jadeja not played any cricket since August 2022. He was originally due to return during the tour of Bangladesh late last year, but it emerged that he had not quite recovered well enough from knee surgery. Even now, the BCCI are saying his inclusion in the squad for the Australia Tests "is subject to fitness."