India’s Pandya rested for Sri Lanka Tests

India’s rising star Hardik Pandya yesterday pulled out of a Test seriesagainst Sri Lanka with the cricket board saying the all-rounder needs abreak.The 24-year-old is to head for rehabilitation instead of being part ofthe 16-man squad for the first two of the three-match series whichstarts next Thursday in Kolkata.“Considering Mr Pandya’s heavy recent workload, the decision was made tonegate any possibility of a major injury concern,” said a Board ofControl for Cricket in India (BCCI) statement.Pandya is to “undergo a period of strength conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.”Pandya has become a key member of the Virat Kohli-led side since makinghis limited-overs debut last year. He has played in 30 of India’s last33 matches.Once shunned by selectors because of his exuberant onfield celebrationsand swagger off the pitch, Pandya is now being considered a possibleall-time great.The right-arm medium pace bowler injured his hand trying to stop a shotfrom New Zealand batsman Colin de Grandhomme in the series-decidingTwenty20 international in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.India clinched the T20s 2-1 to stay unbeaten at home in any format since losing to South Africa in one-day games in 2015.Pandya was played a big part in the team’s success with his seam bowling and his hard-hitting batting.He has played just three Tests since making his debut with ahalf-century against Sri Lanka at Galle in June, but his 29 ODI and 24T20 appearances speak volumes of his allround ability.India are the top Test nation in the International Cricket Council ratings and second behind South Africa in one day matches.As well as three Tests, India and Sri Lanka will play three one day games and three T20s in December.India squad for first two Tests: Virat Kohli (capt), Lokesh Rahul,Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, RohitSharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja,Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, IshantSharma.