RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN and Ravindra Jadeja were both named in India's 15-man squad for the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, which begins in Southampton on Friday (18).
Jadeja, along with Mohammed Shami, Hanuma Vihari and Umesh Yadav, all of whom sustained injuries during the tour of Australia in December and January, return to India's Test squad after missing the home series against England earlier this year.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who starred in the 3-1 Test series win against England, and batsman KL Rahul, who underwent surgery for appendicitis in May, missed the cut, after being named in the preliminary 20-man squad.
Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur and Mayank Agarwal were also left out.
The WTC was launched in 2019 to create a marquee event for Test cricket, following the successes of the Twenty20 and 50-over World Cups.
India squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Dharma Productions scouts fresh faces after 500 auditions Getty Images 
