With a place in the final of the World Test Championship at stake, India have named a strong side that will face Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series starting next month.
India needed to beat the mighty Australians by 3-1 or better to assure themselves of a place in the WTC final.
One of the key names on the side is Suryakumar Yadav whose unbelievable exploits in the shortest format of the game seem to have propelled him for the bigger challenges that Tests provide.
The 32-year-old found himself in the mix of things in the all-important four-Test series as India included him in the 17-member squad for the first two Tests.
Surya is not the only one who merited a place in the squad with his exploits in the T20s, as Ishan Kishan, another white-ball specialist, also found himself in the role of first-choice wicketkeeper following the car accident of regular wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
While the duo will boost the batting department, India will surely miss Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling department. Bumrah, who is battling to get back in shape following a stress reaction in his back, has been stuck on the sidelines for quite some time now.
Ravindra Jadeja’s possible return should bolster the ranks, as the crafty left-arm spin all-rounder could play a big role. However, Jadeja has not played any cricket since August 2022 and BCCI stated that his inclusion in the Test squad against the Australians “is subject to fitness.”
In Bumrah’s absence, Mohammed Shami will step in as India’s key fast bowler, but all eyes will be on Mohammed Siraj, who played a key role during India’s win Down Under in 2020-21.
Jaydev Unadkat, who recently returned to the squad 12 years after playing his debut Test, kept his place in the 17-member squad.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.