INDIA VS BANGLADESH TEST SERIES 1ST MATCH SQUAD ANNOUNCED

 Squad Overview:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Shubman Gill
4. Virat Kohli
5. KL Rahul
6. Sarfaraz Khan
7. Rishabh Pant (wk)
8. Dhruv Jurel (wk)
9. R. Ashwin
10. Axar Patel
11. Ravindra Jadeja
12. Kuldeep Yadav
13. Jasprit Bumrah
14. Mohammed Siraj
15. Akash Deep
16. Yash Dayal

Probable XI:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Shubman Gill
4. Virat Kohli
5. KL Rahul
6. Rishabh Pant (wk)
7. Axar Patel
8. R. Ashwin
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Jasprit Bumrah
11. Mohammed Siraj

Analysis:

This is a solid squad, and it’s great to see that India has strong pacers in reserve. It's likely that either Ravindra Jadeja or Kuldeep Yadav will miss out, as Axar Patel and R. Ashwin are almost certain to play. Bumrah is expected to be rested after the first Test, which could give Akash Deep a chance to play. Yash Dayal, however, might not get an opportunity in this series.

Duleep Trophy Performers:

Before analyzing the squad in detail, let's review some standout performers from the first match of the Duleep Trophy. These matches provided an excellent platform for young talents to showcase their skills.

Akash Deep: After his outstanding performance against England in the home series, Akash Deep has continued his impressive form in the Duleep Trophy. He is a genuine Test match bowler, consistently hitting the right lengths and taking crucial wickets. In his match against India B, he took 9 wickets with an astounding average of 12.89. Such a brilliant spell in Indian conditions is noteworthy, and it's almost certain that he’ll be part of the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). His performance was top-notch, leaving everyone speechless.

Musheer Khan: Don’t be surprised if Musheer Khan gets a maiden Test call-up soon. He possesses remarkable talent, playing both swing and spin with great technique. Given India's need for a reliable No. 3 batter, especially after moving on from Pujara, Musheer could be a strong contender. Shubman Gill has struggled in the Test format, and India might soon start looking for new talent. Musheer also bowls off-spin, adding value as a part-time bowler. He scored 181 runs in 2 innings at an average of 90.5.

KL Rahul: KL Rahul often faces criticism, but he is quite solid in the Test format. He could be a great option to bat at No. 3 instead of Gill. Though his first match wasn’t spectacular, scoring 94 runs at an average of 47 in challenging conditions secures his place in the team as a pure batter, especially now that Rishabh Pant is back. According to some sources, he is expected to start in the XI, which likely means Sarfaraz Khan will miss out.

Dhruv Jurel: Although Dhruv Jurel didn’t perform well with the bat in the first match, his wicketkeeping was exceptional. This makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team as a wicketkeeper-batter. He had a strong home series against England, contributing significantly to India’s victories. While he may not start in the XI, he is likely to be the backup keeper for a considerable period.

Other Players: Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, and Riyan Parag Played brilliantly. These matches serve as an important test for young talent in red-ball cricket. The selectors are closely monitoring performances, and these players could influence the squad selection for the BGT.

Conclusion: The squad selected is arguably the best India can field at the moment, with no major omissions. These matches will serve as a crucial exam for young players. Players like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill will be tested, especially against spinners. Gill has struggled with inswingers, a flaw exposed by bowlers like James Anderson in the past, Navdeep Saini recently trapped him for incoming deliveries. While playing against new ball, one need to keep his head in direction of the front foot. In the video mentioned below, you can see Gill's head was not in a great position, hence he misjudged the incoming delivery and got bowled. Virat Kohli, too, needs to refine his technique against spin. A century from him in the upcoming series against Bangladesh would be highly encouraging.

Thank you,
Advait Kadam
(Sports Management Student)