Indian Test Team’s Selection Issues
Indian Test Team’s Selection Issues: The Indian team without a few of its major Test stars still went on to dominate the first Test against the West Indies. India has been missing its pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for over a year now. Rishabh Pant the team’s talisman has also been missing since the start of 2023. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are also on the injury list. Mohammad Shami was rested post a hectic cycle.
India was able to brush aside a hapless West Indies side thanks to its bench strength and the individual brilliance of a few players. But what happens to the side when they travel to South Africa later this year?
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The wicket-keeper’s puzzle:
Rishabh Pant’s return to cricket looks highly unlikely in the next 10-12 months. He was India’s major batting hope especially overseas. Pant scored a century in England, Australia, and South Africa. India missed his services dearly in the closely contested BGT 2023 and quite clearly in the 2023 WTC Final.
His replacement Srikar Bharat didn’t impress with the bat and Ishan Kishan who replaced Bharat in the first Test against Windies doesn’t ignite hope. There seems to be a big gap between Pant and the rest of the wicketkeeping options available.
Are Bharat and Kishan the only options?
Indian team at one stage seem to be producing wicketkeeper batsmen at will. But all of a sudden the supply line looks feeble. Wriddhiman Saha has been phased out despite fitness not being a concern. India hasn’t looked at other domestic options for this role. It makes one curious why not try someone like Sanju Samson in Tests?
He plays both pace and spin well, pace more than spin at times, a rare quality among Indian batters. His keeping is top-notch, he hardly ever misses anything. Sanju is hitting prime form as a batsman. On the wickets of South Africa, he surely will be a better bet than the ones currently playing for India.
KL Rahul is a solid option too:
It was KL Rahul’s century in the first Test against South Africa in the last tour that set up India’s win. He scored that century as an opener. There have been many experts who have asked Rahul to don the gloves in Tests and bat in the middle order. This could open up multiple opportunities in the XI. He has a wonderful technique and this move could be a game-changer for both Rahul and the Indian team.
What is with Hardik Pandya not playing Tests?
He would have been ideal in the 2023 WTC Final. Hardik Pandya’s all-round skills were something that India missed. This resulted in them selecting a XI that never stood a chance against Australia who had a superior side for the conditions. Pandya last played a Test for India in 2018. He hasn’t been considered at all for any of the Tests that India has been playing.
Will he ever play a Test again?
It rings in a pertinent question of whether Pandya is India’s first self-admitted white-ball specialist or if is there something else that’s been cooking. No matter what the answer to this question is, the fact of the matter is that his absence and continual denial to play Tests has robbed India of a few great victories!
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