Kochi: Buoyed by a sweeping win against New Zealand in three T20s, India is aiming to repeat the feat in two test series beginning on November 25.
Ajinkya Rahan’s inclusion as captain was a great relief, but some surprise inclusions for the Kanpur test is highly deplorable.
It is surprising to see the management giving long rope to players like wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma time and again.
Saha has been getting chances since 2010.
He played 38 tests, making 1,251 runs at an average of 29.09. He made three centuries and five half centuries, having an average strike rate of 45.31. He was out for a duck on six occasions.
On the other hand, Ishant Sharma has played 115 test matches and taken 311 wickets at an average of 2.7 wickets. His inclusion can be justified only if the country is lacking medium pacers.
When there are countless number of young and promising speedsters waiting for a break, why are the selectors banking on Ishant Sharma.
Meanwhile, cricket lovers are eagerly looking forward to seeing the performance of captain Ajinkya Rahane who had tremendous success as a captain winning four out of five tests. Out of 78 matches, he has to his credit 12 centuries, making 4,756 runs at an average of 39.63.
Class player Virat Kohli will play under Rahane while he will don the role of captain in the Mumbai test which will be the second and last one.
Team
Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Surya Kumar Yadav, Mayank Agarwal, Shubhman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (WK) K S Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja,R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayanth Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj and Praseedh Krishna.
