Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
It could be a virtual shootout between Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal for a middle-order spot, as the selectors pick a 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies on Wednesday. The selection meeting is likely to take place online, and it is learnt that Shreyas and Padikkal are in the fray at the expense of Karun Nair. The series starts in Ahmedabad on October 2.
Padikkal has runs in red-ball cricket under his belt, being fresh off a 150 for India A in the first multi-day match of ongoing series against Australia A. Before that, the Karnataka batsman scored a half-century, playing for South Zone against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Padikkal was part of India’s Test squad in Australia last winter and played the first Test in Perth. He wasn’t considered for the England tour, as he was nursing an injury.
Shreyas, meanwhile, has been searching for red-ball form, getting out cheaply in the only match he played in the Duleep Trophy followed by a single-digit score in the first game against Australia A. He has pulled out of the second fixture, citing personal reasons, with Dhruv Jurel captaining the side in his absence. Despite that, though, Shreyas remains in the Test reckoning. Padikkal, however, seems to have his nose in front. “The selectors made Shreyas India A captain, with an eye on the home Test series,” said a source.
As RevSportz reported on September 19, Rishabh Pant, who suffered a toe fracture during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, is ruled out. Jurel would be the first-choice wicketkeeper against West Indies, and if a reserve ‘keeper is picked, the place will go to Narayan Jagadeesan. The Tamil Nadu man was drafted into the squad for the final Test in England. He scored a half-century in the first game against Australia A. The chances of Abhimanyu Easwaran getting into the squad will depend on whether the selectors prefer to keep a reserve opener.
Two-thirds of the Test squad picks itself. Two senior players, KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj, are in the XI for the second game against Australia A to get into the red-ball groove. They will be automatic picks in the Test side.
Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel will form the spin quartet. The fast-bowling composition will depend on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability. The senior fast bowler is currently in the UAE for the Asia Cup, and given his workload management factor, it needs to be seen how many Tests he plays against West Indies.
In home conditions, the squad will not have an overload of fast bowlers. Bumrah (if he is available), Siraj and Akash Deep (if fit) are expected to be in the side. Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna offer the back-up options. It would be interesting to see if the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee goes for a left-field choice like Manav Suthar. The left-arm spinner bagged a five-for against Australia A on Tuesday m
This would be the last meeting for the two outgoing selectors, S Sharath and Subroto Banerjee. Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh are set to replace them after the BCCI’s annual general meeting on September 28.
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