The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced their men’s Test squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies, with some surprising omissions and deserving call-ups.
The BCCI selection committee has opted to give opportunities to promising young talents, as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad received their maiden call-ups to the India Test squad. Jaiswal, a highly regarded young batter, has been in sensational form, impressing selectors with his performances in domestic cricket and Indian Premier League (IPL). Gaikwad, known for his aggressive stroke play, has also caught the attention of the selectors with his consistent performances in limited-overs format.
Ajinkya Rahane, who recently made a comeback to the team for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, has been appointed as the deputy to captain Rohit Sharma. Rahane’s experience and leadership qualities played a significant role in his selection for the tour.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Navdeep Saini has made a comeback to the Test squad after missing out on recent international fixtures due to injury. Saini’s return will bolster the pace attack, providing additional firepower alongside the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar and Shardul Thakur.
In a surprising move, Cheteshwar Pujara, known for his solid technique and ability to anchor the innings, has been left out of the squad. Another notable omission is of Mohammad Shami, one of India’s leading pacers. The selectors have included two wicketkeepers in the squad featuring KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan.
India Test squad for West Indies tour: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini
