The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 18-man squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series, which is set to kick off on November 22 in Perth. Among the noteworthy selections are Abhimanyu Easwaran, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Reddy, all of whom will bring their recent domestic successes to the international stage.
Abhimanyu Easwaran, a prolific run-scorer from Bengal, has earned his spot in the squad due to his consistent performances in domestic cricket. He is expected to serve as the third-choice opener alongside established players Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav has been left out as he is currently referred to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for a long-term resolution to his chronic left groin issue, following the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.
India has opted not to include Mohammed Shami in the squad as he continues his recovery process. Nevertheless, the pace attack remains formidable, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, both of whom are in excellent form.
Emerging Talents Shine
In a testament to their performances, Akash Deep retains his place in the squad after impressive outings against England and Bangladesh. Prasidh Krishna also makes a return to the Test setup after debuting in South Africa earlier this year, having successfully rehabilitated from a stress fracture. His stellar performance in India A’s Duleep Trophy title win last month showcases his readiness for international cricket.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana has capped off an outstanding 2024 season, contributing to an IPL title win and earning his Test call-up after previously being selected for the white-ball teams. Similarly, Andhra’s Nitish Reddy, a promising medium-pace all-rounder, has been rewarded with a spot following a strong IPL season that also led to his T20I debut.
Pace Reserves And Other Notable Picks
India has chosen to include a pace trio of Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed as reserves, ensuring depth in their bowling lineup. Washington Sundar, making a significant comeback in red-ball cricket after his debut on India’s last tour to Australia, has also secured a place in the squad. In contrast, Axar Patel has been omitted from the selection.
Upcoming Tour Schedule Of BGT Series
The schedule for the Border-Gavaskar Test series is as follows:
- 1st Test: Perth Stadium, Perth – November 26
- 2nd Test: Adelaide Oval (Day/Night) – December 6
- 3rd Test: The Gabba, Brisbane – December 14
- 4th Test: MCG, Melbourne – December 26
- 5th Test: SCG, Sydney – January 3