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Iyer called in as Kohli cover: reports

India said to have brought in youngster in case inspirational skipper doesn't recover from shoulder injury

Shreyas Iyer has been called up to India’s Test squad as cover for captain Virat Kohli, according to reports.

ESPNcricinfo is reporting Iyer will likely join the India squad in Dharamsala on match eve in case Kohli hasn’t sufficiently recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained on day one of the third Test in Ranchi.

"It made sense to have a back-up batsman because in case of a contingency it is very difficult to reach a place like Dharamsala," a BCCI source told ESPNcricinfo.

"We will know more on Virat tomorrow."

Kohli did not bat at India practice on Thursday but is expected to have a hit in the nets on Friday ahead of the winner-takes-all clash for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

If Kohli is ruled out of the fourth Test, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who captained in Kohli’s absence in Ranchi, will likely lead the hosts.

Iyer is no stranger to the Australians having smashed an unbeaten double-century in the tourists' sole warm-up game at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium in February.

Iyer's eye-catching tour match double-ton

The 22-year-old is yet to make his international debut but has starred at first-class level, averaging 55.18 from 38 matches.

Two seasons ago the right-hander was the leading run-scorer in India’s first-class competition, the Ranji Trophy, with 1,321 runs and finished the 2016-17 season with the most runs for runners-up Mumbai.

While Kohli’s participation remains in doubt for the fourth Test at HCPA Stadium, fast bowler Mohammad Shami will not be playing after it was reported he is still being monitored by India team physiotherapist Partick Farhart.

Despite averaging only 9.2 in five innings this series, Kohli would be a huge blow to India’s chances of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Dharmsala.

Australia, as current holders of the trophy, need only to draw the final Test to retain the trophy while only a win will suffice for India.

Kohli’s aggressive leadership and tactical nous was missed during his time off the field in Ranchi after he damaged his shoulder diving to prevent a boundary.


Test Squads


India (for fourth Test): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Shreyas Iyer


Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade


Australia's schedule in India


Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune – Australia won by 333 runs.


Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru – India won by 75 runs.


Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi – match drawn.


Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala