The star bowler of India’s fast bowling, Jasprit Bumrah might not feature in the two-match test series against Bangladesh at home next month. Reports suggest that India’s men’s cricket team selection committee is seeking a left-arm pacer who can fill the void caused by Bumrah’s absence in red ball formats.
Rohit-led Indian Team is Ready To Face Bangladesh
Team India led by Rohit Sharma is set to play a two-match series as part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The first game of the India-Bangladesh series will be held on September 19 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai while Green Park in Kanpur will host the second Test commencing from September 27.
Mohammed Shami continues to recover from an ankle injury, which means he will miss the Duleep Trophy 2024 starting on September 5th. Currently, Mohammed Siraj is the only experienced pacer available; therefore, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee wants another pacer or more options.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will give Bumrah rest so he can regain his full fitness before the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia. Although a move aimed at managing his workload, this decision has opened up an opportunity window for other pacers, especially Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed.
Arshdeep Singh’s Battle For Test Spot
Arshdeep Singh has been doing great in the in shorter formats over the past few years. The previous head coach, Rahul Dravid, had acknowledged his potential in first-class cricket and even gave him a chance to prove himself last year. He has played 16 first-class matches so far in which the left-arm pacer has taken 49 wickets at an average of 31.97.
Khaleel Ahmed has played twelve first-class games while Yash Dayal has made twenty three appearances. Both bowlers showcased their talents in IPL 2024 and will be playing in the Duleep Trophy that lies ahead of them; this competition provides an avenue for the two to strive towards getting their Test spots.
After losing a one-day international series to Sri Lanka, Team India is now looking forward to recover and gain momentum. They are set to resume their ICC World Test Championship campaign with the series against Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma is committed together with his team to ensure that they win enough games which will increase their chances of reaching WTC final in 2025.
