India will take an 18-member squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana getting their maiden call-up to the Test squad. Apart from the duo, the selectors have also included Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran who has been scoring consistently in the domestic circuit and A tours for the five-match Test series beginning November 22.
India’s batting failure in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand didn’t see the selectors pressing the panic button as they went with the tried and tested for the all-important trip Down Under.
From the squad that is playing against New Zealand, Kuldeep Yadav will miss the trip to Australia as he has been advised to head to the Cricket of Excellence in Bengaluru for long term resolution of his chronic left groin issue. With pacers set to call the shots, the selectors have also left out Axar Patel, who now will fly with India’s white-ball squad for the four T20Is in South Africa beginning from November 8.
As expected India will head to Australia with an army of pacers spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and includes Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Rana. Apart from the five, Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed, who are currently with India A squad in Australia will stay back for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as reserves.
Harshit Rana celebrates with KKR teammates after helping the hosts beat SRH during an IPL 2024 match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. (Express photo by Partha Paul.)
Shami not included
A call on Mohammed Shami’s inclusion will be taken after the pacer proves his fitness in the Ranji Trophy. As reported earlier, Shami is expected to play Bengal’s fourth round match against Karnataka in Bengaluru in the first week of November after Diwali. Among the pacers, the fitness around Prasidh remains a concern for India. But Shami not around, the selectors have taken a brave call.
Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar will make up the spin department. With all three being capable batsmen, they will provide the much needed balance to the XI should the team management seek batting depth.
With regards to seam bowling all-rounder, it was a straight forward call. With Hardik Pandya not in fray, Nitish, who is already part of India A squad, will extend his stay beyond the A series. It is understood that a good performance in the A series could open the door for Nitish’s inclusion in the XI as he could provide a good cover to the seam bowlers.
With captain Rohit Sharma expected to take a break for a Test because of personal reasons, India needed a third opener. Though there is KL Rahul in the squad, India are unlikely to make him play at the top order again. As a result, Easwaran has been handed a call-up. The 29-year-old has been in rich vein of form off late and has headed to Australia on the back of scoring four centuries on the trot in Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup and Ranji Trophy. Eswaran has been part of India Test squads in the past in England and Bangladesh but is yet to earn his Test cap.
The knock against Delhi will satisfy Sudharsan, who along with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran will be fighting for the position of the third opener for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Series in Australia. (TNCA)
Dhruv Jurel will be the second wicketkeeper behind Rishabh Pant for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy that begins in Perth on November 22. India are scheduled to play five Tests in Australia with Adelaide (day/night), Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney hosting the remaining Tests.
Ramandeep, Vyshak called-up
Meanwhile, for the four-match T20Is in South Africa, the selectors have named a 15-member squad that will be led by Suryakumar Yadav. With Shivam Dube and Mayank Yadav unavailable because of injuries and Riyan Parag unavailable for selection because of chronic right shoulder injury, the selectors have called up Punjab’s Ramandeep Singh and Karnataka seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak.
BGT squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
