Pandya rested for first two Tests against Lanka

 Hardik Pandya was withdrawn from India's squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka after the Senior National selectors decided to rest the budding all-rounder.  

Pandya had been named for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka in a 16-member squad and no replacement has been named after he was withdrawn.

The 24-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder has been has been playing non-stop for India since the Champions Trophy in England in June in all three formats of the game.

"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," the BCCI said in a statement.

"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 and conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru."

Kolkata's Eden Gardens will host the opening match of the three-Test series from Thursday with the second and third Tests in Nagpur and Delhi.

India will also play three one-day internationals and the same number of T20Is against the islanders.

Indian squad: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.