IND vs WI: 3 New batters & bowlers for Test squad, India’s Test Squad for West Indies series : Team India’s two-match test assignment has become crucial for the BCCI, as it looks to resurrect its performance in the marquee multi-lateral events. While India has managed to perform well throughout the group or league stages of any tournament, the hit it has been taking for a decade in the important knockout matches has somewhat hurt the team’s aspirations.
Recently, Rohit Sharma-led India faced a harsh defeat against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023. The 209 run-defeat against the Aussies will not settle anytime soon until significant reforms are not made on the Indian side.
It is important to note that, a few senior members of the Indian team have come under scrutiny following their poor show in the WTC final 2023.
The Test figures of skipper Rohit Sharma, although soared in 2021 and 2022, however, they aren’t justifying his stature anymore. He has often found ways to get dismissed in innocuous deliveries by playing unnecessary shots after negating the dangerous spells.
Similarly, Cheteshwar Pujara’s numbers are also a sign of concern for the Indian side. Although he performed well during his recent county stint, his runs have dried in the Indian colours.
Talking about Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who still are going strong, they are also under scrutiny. While Rahane,35, made a commendable comeback in the WTC final, it remains a question as to how long he can hold his position in the team with that age factor coming into play. Virat Kohli, on the other side, is also far from his beast version, although, he has managed to gain some momentum in the test format.
The aforementioned four players form India’s heavy top and middle order, which now is nearing its twilight. So the BCCI will have to plan and strategise ahead for the bright future of the Indian test side.
With the senior pros not having a ball of a time in the field, the young players must be given fair opportunities to slide into the side and pose as serious competition for the playing spot.
IND vs WI: Start rewarding young players: Sanjay Manjrekar
Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar reckons BCCI should now start rewarding the players who are consistently doing good in first-class cricket.
“About time we start rewarding the guys who are doing well in first-class cricket,” said Sanjay Manjrekar. “And not just runs. The selectors could look at players who have it in them to be future Test players and succeed in foreign conditions.”
He further said he would love to see three new batters and bowlers get the national call-up for the upcoming two-match IND vs WI test series, which begins on July 12 in Dominica.
“I would like to see at least three new batters come into play in the picture and new fast bowlers,” he said.
Manjrekar also dissected what served as one of the key ingredients of Australia’s success in the ICC WTC 2023 Final against India.
“The game changers for Australia in the WTC final – Steve Smith and Travis Head – don’t play a lot of T20 cricket. So we have to find guys who are not going to be fatigued or don’t have to make the adjustments from IPL to Test cricket.”
Manjrekar reckons India again needs to work on its pace bowling lineup and form a new set of players, who are match ready at any given moment. Team India had a certain depth in the bowling with the services of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna among others.
However, suddenly with the injuries to a couple of pacers, the fast-bowling lineup became thin and dull and there was too much responsibility on Mohammed Siraj and Shami.
“Just a few months back I was taking pride in the depth that we have in our seam-bowling department and suddenly Bumrah is not fit. There are quite fit others like Prasidh Krishna so maybe for Test cricket, India needs to create a new line of fast bowlers. Now you should look for specific test players. If somebody gets injured, we should have backups ready. Like Scott Boland. Came in straightaway and made an impact. We had to go back to Umesh Yadav which is not a good sign,” he said.
India’s Test Squad for West Indies Series – Prediction
The BCCI could use the opportunity to hand national call-up to the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Eshwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Rajat Patidar.
India’s Test squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Eshwaran, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Ishan Kishan, Srikar Bharat, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
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For more details head to BCCI’s official website.