The BCCI Selection Committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, will be set for a tough task. With a short turnaround time, the selection committee is likely to announce squads for the IND vs BAN 2nd Test, and IND vs BAN T20I series and the Irani Cup together next week after the completion of the 1st Test against Bangladesh. The selectors will also need to pick the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup. Hence, it could be out along with the Bangladesh series. BCCI has only announced the squad for IND vs BAN 1st Test so far. India squad for IND vs NZ Test series is likely to be out later.
Squad announcement pending
- IND vs BAN 2nd Test
- Rest of India squad for Irani Cup
- IND vs BAN T20I series
- IND vs NZ Test series
As Gautam Gambhir makes his Test debut as the head coach of the India Cricket Team, he will be keen to test a few youngsters to build the bench strength. India will play 10 Tests ahead of WTC Final but there will be 6 more matches until August 2025. And India will need to rejig the Test squad to keep the regulars fresh, as per workload management.
IND vs BAN Test squad
The BCCI selection committee did not want to announce the squad for both Tests, keeping the Duleep Trophy in mind. Sarfaraz Khan who is in the IND vs BAN Test squad for the 1st match could continue the Duleep Trophy assignment. However, as the Duleep Trophy concludes on Sep 22, he could be back in the Test squad shortly.
In all probabilities, the team management will release him for the Irani Cup match between Mumbai and Rest of India starting October 1. Barring Sarfaraz, the Test squad will be similar to the 1st Test with any changes unlikely barring late injuries and niggles.
Irani Cup squad
Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will also announce the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup 2024. The Test hopefuls who are not part of the Mumbai squad will get a look in. The likes of Harshit Rana, and Ruturaj Gaikwad among others who are knocking on the Test door could be back. Mohammed Shami, who has been out since the 2023 World Cup, could also make a return in the Irani Cup. However, it will depend on his injury assessment.
IND vs BAN T20I series
Another important squad announcement will be for the T20Is. With the focus not on T20Is at the moment, this is a chance for the selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir to try out new faces in India squad. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj could rest.
All eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav. He is nursing an injury and has already missed two rounds of the Duleep Trophy match. If he misses out on the IND vs BAN T20I series, India will have to look for a temporary captain. There is a chance that India could reappoint Hardik Pandya as the captain if SKY misses out. Nitish Kumar Reddy is all set for a recall after he missed the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tour with injury.
Ishan Kishan is likely to return to the India squad after he was exiled for missing domestic matches last season. Sanju Samson is also likely to return despite a lacklustre performance in the Sri Lanka series.
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IND vs NZ Test series
Immediately after the Bangladesh T20Is, India will take on New Zealand in a three-match Test series. While the set Test squad is likely to continue for the NZ series, all eyes will be on Mohammed Shami. If he misses the Irani Cup, he is likely to make a comeback in the IND vs NZ Test series, starting October 16.
However, the selectors could withhold the India squad announcement for the NZ series for a later date as they would want the Irani Cup to get over.
