Hardik Pandya rested for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka

Mumbai: The rising superstar of Indian Cricket, Hardik Pandya, has been rested for the first two Tests of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Friday.

Pandya, who made his Test debut in Sri Lanka in July, was named in the initial squad for the first two Tests, with the opener set to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 16.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee in consultation with the Indian team management has decided to rest all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Pandya was named in the squad for the first two Tests," a BCCI statement read.

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The BCCI added that the decision was taken to negate any major injury concern, considering Pandya had been playing back-to-back cricket and India have a very important tour to South Africa up next.

"Considering Pandya's heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern. Pandya will undergo a period of strength at conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru," the statement added.

The Indian Test squad for the first two Tests:

Virat Kohli (Captain), Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (Wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma.