On the eve of the second Test against England at Lord’s, the Indian team management confirmed that pacer Shardul Thakur is not available for selection due to injury.

Addressing the pre-match press conference, India skipper Virat Kohli said Shardul should be available for the third Test, slated to be held at Leeds from August 25.

"Shardul should be okay for the third Test. He has a strain on his left hamstring," Kohli stated.

In the opening Test, India fielded four-seamers (Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur) and one spinner (Ravindra Jadeja).

However, a few eyebrows were raised as leading off-spinner R Ashwin didn’t feature in the playing XI despite doing well in a county game before the Test series.

Ashwin might come into the XI after Shardul’s injury. Ishant Sharma too would be in the race if the management wishes to continue with four pacers.

Coming to the opening Test, it ended in a draw as a result of the relentless rain on the final day at Trent Bridge. The visitors were 51/1 at the close of play on Day 4 while chasing 209 in the fourth innings.

Team India Squad:

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur (unavailable), Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Akshar Patel, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav, Hanuma Vihari, Abhimanyu Easwaran.