The cricket season has finally resumed after a long break. On September 19, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will return in India jersey in the IND vs BAN Test series. While the good news is in Kohli and Rishabh Pant’s return, there will be a selection headache to accommodate the two star players in the squad. Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee will announce the squad for the two-match India vs Bangladesh series next week after the first round of the Duleep Trophy.
While it may seem like a simple selection process with the seniors returning to the squad, it is anything but. Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel made a mark in Kohli, Pant, and KL Rahul’s absence. Now, they do not seem to have a place in the Playing XI. There is also a question about Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.
IND vs BAN: Selection headache
While the India squad for the Bangladesh Test is all but set, there are some questions that the selectors must answer.
- Should India go with four spinners in the squad?
- Is there a place for a left-arm seamer?
- Will Shreyas Iyer make a Test comeback?
- Should India prepare Washington Sundar as Ashwin’s backup?
- What will be Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal’s role?
- Should India try out Nitish Reddy?
Return of Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, who last played Test cricket back in South Africa in January, will return after eight months. In his absence, Sarfaraz Khan made his debut and offered a glimpse of what he is capable of in the IND vs ENG series.
A run machine till 2019, Kohli hasn’t had the best of time in Test cricket. Since the pandemic break, Kohli has scored just 1530 runs at an average of 35.58 including two centuries in Tests.
Although after two years of dry run, he has since returned to form, he is yet to hit the top gear. After skipping the Duleep Trophy, IND vs BAN series will be his first. India need him to fire in the series with 10 Test matches coming up.
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha isn’t concerned about Virat Kohli’s form though.
“Greats have had their challenges and overcame them. I’m very sure Virat will always do that; it’s just a matter of time. Virat has set the benchmark so high that even a 50 or 60 looks like a failure for him. That’s just how he’s contributed to the Indian team. It’s just a phase; the way he trains and his work ethic—it’s just a matter of time before he comes good.”
Pragyan Ojha to InsideSport
Rishabh Pant’s Test comeback
The hero of India’s historic win at Gabba and the Man Friday Rishabh Pant is all set to make Test return in the IND vs BAN Test series. While India’s talent pool did not disappoint with backups during his almost two-year absence, no one could give India the X-factor Pant did.
India’s No 1 wicketkeeper-batter has been out of red-ball cricket since his near-fatal car crash. With the Border Gavaskar Trophy coming up, he can warm up to get his red-ball rhythm back in the India vs Bangladesh series.
| Player | Inns | Runs | Avg | 50/100 | Dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KS Bharat | 12 | 221 | 20.09 | 0 | 19 |
| Ishan Kishan | 3 | 78 | 78 | 1/0 | 5 |
| KL Rahul | 3 | 113 | 37.66 | 0/1 | 8 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 4 | 190 | 63.33 | 1/0 | 7 |
KL Rahul will be another star batter to return. After missing the last four Tests of the IND vs ENG series, KL Rahul will return to Test cricket in IND vs BAN series. After struggling for nearly two years, he found his form back in South Africa. On his return to red-ball cricket in the Duleep Trophy, KL Rahul is unbeaten on 23. As India are building up for the Australia tour, Rahul in the middle order will be crucial.
Jasprit Bumrah dilemma
In all probability, Jasprit Bumrah won’t feature in the India vs Bangladesh series. The premier pacer has got an extended break since the T20 World Cup triumph and his return is likely in the IND vs NZ Test series next month.
Similarly, Mohammed Shami is also unavailable since his surgery. And if everything goes well, he could make a comeback in the IND vs NZ series but it will depend on his injury assessment.
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