IND vs BAN: How did Test squad hopefuls perform in Duleep Trophy?

Now that the first round of the Duleep Trophy 2024 is over, all the focus will shift to the upcoming India vs Bangladesh Tests. Beginning in Chennai on September 12, India’s Test squad for the 2-match series is yet to be announced. InsideSport had previously learned that the team would be named after the first two matches were played in Ananatapur and Bengaluru. The selectors were looking to fill just a couple of spots in the 15-man strong squad and were waiting to see how the probables would perform. 

Confirmed picks

First, we’ll need to determine who are the players that are close to making the squad because 44 players were in action in two games (India A vs B and India C vs D). Five places are already sealed (fitness permitting) for the 15-man squad. The players who were rested (Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Siraj) will be the first names on the sheet. So let’s come to the remaining 10. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were India’s No. 2 and 3 in the last Test series against England. Both didn’t do much in the India A vs B game, scoring 95 runs combined between them in 4 innings. Jaiswal is one of the most talented openers in the game and won’t be dropped even if he fails against Bangladesh, while Shubman has just started to come good at 3 for India. They don’t really have competitors at the moment.

KL Rahul shines in Duleep Trophy

Sarfaraz Khan didn’t do that well in the first innings but was good enough in the second (46). Despite the tough competition, he’s expected to make the squad. The talented batter was outdone by his 19-year-old brother, Musheer, but given his exemplary skills against spin, he’ll make it. KL Rahul, who missed the last four Tests India played, was great. Some doubted his place in the team, but he top-scored for his side (India B) twice and put the end to the discussions. 

Since Virat Kohli’s coming back, Rajat Patidar, who played in his spot, won’t make it. He did well in the India C vs D match, scoring 57 runs, but the tough competition will force him out. Devdutt Padikkal, who made his Test debut in March, won’t play either because both Sarfaraz and KL will play ahead of him. Padikkal played against Patidar and scored 56 runs in the low-scoring match. 

Pant’s much-awaited comeback

KS Bharat will be pushed out as well. He played in Rishabh Pant’s absence but won’t make the cut now. Pant did well in his first red-ball match in 20 months, scoring a stylish 61. Dhruv Jurel scored 2 runs in the match, including a golden duck, but will play ahead of Bharat after showing great promise against England earlier in the year. Ishan Kishan didn’t play and isn’t in contention to make India’s squad for Bangladesh.

No place for Washington or Sai Kishore

Kuldeep Yadav didn’t do well, but will play for obvious reasons. Axar Patel was great with both bat and ball. Together, they’ll be among India’s 4 spinners (Ashwin and Jadeja). Other hopefuls, Washington Sundar and R Sai Kishore, did okay with ball in the couple of overs they bowled but did nothing groundbreaking to deserve a call-up. Saurabh Kumar who was received India call-up earlier in the year didn’t play.

Dayal outdoes Arshdeep, Mukesh & Akash Deep confirmed?

Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, both did great. They were part of India’s last Test squad and are expected to return their place. Arshdeep Singh was among selectors planned but he wasn’t good in the India C vs D match. Harshit Rana, who made his India debut last month, did okay and might emerge as a surprise pick. Although, Yash Dayal wasn’t in the scheme of things, he outdid Arshdeep and has been in the plans having earned a BCCI central bowling contract earlier in the year.

Probable India squad for Bangladesh Tests

Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar.