The clear message for Ishan Kishan is that he must make a comeback through domestic cricket. Despite seeking rest and missing the Tests against South Africa, the senior selection committee has excluded him from the initial two Tests against England. Dhruv Jurel, from Uttar Pradesh, earns his first call-up as the 16-member squad features a four-pronged spin attack.
Mohammed Shami’s return has not been rushed, with indications suggesting he might join for the latter part of the five-match series. In the case of Prasidh Krishna, who debuted in South Africa, a quadriceps injury during a Ranji fixture might keep him out. The injury forced Prasidh to leave the field after bowling 14.5 overs.
The upcoming five-match Test series against England begins on January 25 in Hyderabad after the ongoing T20Is against Afghanistan. Despite a mixed outing in South Africa, no significant changes were expected in the squad, with the primary uncertainty revolving around the wicketkeeper’s position. While Rahul took on the gloves in South Africa, doubts persist about his ability to keep on turning tracks against spinners like R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, especially at home.
Although Kishan, a left-handed batsman, was anticipated to make a return, the presence of two other left-handers, Jadeja and Axar, has made it easier for selectors to exclude him. The front-runner for the wicketkeeper role is believed to be Rahul, but his effectiveness against spinners with the red ball on turning tracks remains untested.
In a worst-case scenario, India has the option to revert to KS Bharat. However, having Rahul not only provides a wicketkeeping option but also strengthens the batting lineup, provided he improves his performances with the bat.
As for Jurel, his inclusion comes after being part of the India A tour to South Africa and facing England Lions. With an impressive average of 46.47 in 15 first-class games, he is considered a compact batsman.
In Test cricket, especially at home, India’s batting depth has been a significant strength. On turning tracks, where three spinners and two pacers are deployed, the batting depth extends up to No. 9. The contributions of spinners with the bat were pivotal in India’s closely-fought series against Australia last year.
Trial by spin
It was anticipated that India would continue to opt for spin-friendly pitches, and the inclusion of a robust four-pronged attack serves as confirmation. The potential benching of Kuldeep Yadav, who has been the primary wicket-taker in white-ball cricket for the past 14 months, speaks volumes. Despite delivering an impressive performance in Bangladesh in late 2022, the left-arm wrist-spinner has not played a Test since and remained on the bench throughout the entire Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
