Which Indian players will get a chance for the England Test series?

By Vipin - 2024-01-12 14:14:23

Which Indian players will get a chance for the England Test series?

England's tour of India 2024 which begins on January 25 will comprise five test matches. England on Monday announced the squad of their next India tour and gave a chance to three uncapped players in their upcoming squad. After a disappointing outing in the ICC ODI World Cup, England seems to be experimenting with their selection.

Ben Stokes will captain the squad, having recently announced he will not be available for next year's Indian Premier League to manage his workload and fitness. The series begins in Hyderabad on January 25. India's squad is yet to be announced.

Big names like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who are on a break, would be back for the Tests. At home, India start favourites and the conditions would test the visiting team, who are traditionally not good against spin.

Reports suggest that KL Rahul will play as a pure batter and Ishan Kishan would be keeping wickets. Pace bowler Mohammed Shami is set to miss the first two Tests due to an injury. He is likely to be available for selection from the third Test onwards. Meanwhile, the Indian team got their T20 WC preparations off to a winning start as they beat Afghanistan at Mohali in the opening game of the three-match series.

Celebrating coach Rahul Dravid’s 51st birthday, India, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, triumphed where all-rounder Shivam Dube stole the spotlight. Dube’s stellar performance showcased his versatility, making a strong case as Hardik Pandya’s backup. With the ball, he scalped a crucial wicket, dismissing Afghanistan’s captain Ibrahim Zadran with finesse. But it was with the bat that Dube truly shone, anchoring the innings with a career-best 60 runs, guiding India to victory with 15 balls to spare.

Jitesh Sharma, known for his explosive finishes in the IPL, entered the fray early in the ninth over and contributed impressive 31 off 20 balls. Axar Patel, stepping into the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, played a pivotal role with his darting deliveries, finishing with figures of 4-0-23-2.

With the T20 World Cup looming in less than six months, India seized the opportunity to test their young talents. Players like Axar Patel, who claimed 2 wickets for 23 runs, and Jitesh Sharma, delivering a fine cameo, showcased their mettle, contributing to India’s triumph and taking a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.