From Fans to Selectors, an Exciting Home Season Ahead Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024

The upcoming two-home test series will be crucial from India’s perspective. The team will be playing 5 test matches before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. These matches will give the players good match practice and, to the selectors and management identify the key players for the BGT 2024. The players will be looking forward to these two test series to strengthen their position in the team and cement their place for the BGT and the coming years. 

However, the road will not be as easy as it sounds. The players will be under the continuous watch of the management. There are a few players who would love to get out of that scrutiny zone of the management and reply to their critics in style with their performances. The team for the Bangladesh series has already been announced and the squad looks tremendous on paper.

Indian Cricket Home Test Season before Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series

The 2-match test series against Bangladesh will see the Indian batters facing good spin bowling. It is seen in recent times that Indian players have struggled against spin and the results were seen evidently in the recently concluded Sri Lanka tour. The matches will give the batters a tough time countering the quality spin duo of Mehidy Hasan and Shakib.

The 3-match test series against New Zealand will also be a challenging one for the players as they will be up against some of the best players in the world currently. The bowlers may have to toil hard for the wickets and if selected, Ajaz Patel will love to repeat his performances from the last tour.

Indian Test Squad Preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series:

Rishabh Pant is the First choice Wicket-keeper option

The first key point is the selection of Rishabh Pant as a wicket-keeper in the test matches. There was no doubt over his selection once he gets fully cleared by the NCA. An attacking batsman who can take the game away from the opposition on any day. Rishabh’s wicketkeeping in the first match of the Duleep Trophy was excellent and he justified his selection in the team. Rishabh’s performance in Australia, and against Australia will play in the mind of the Aussies and will be an x-factor for the team.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul’s Performances will be crucial

The other inclusion of Gill and Rahul shows BCCI’s trust in them. Both can change the course of the match on their own. Gill’s potential in test cricket was seen in his debut match in Australia. But, he has not been able to continue that form and would love to have another opportunity to prove his belonging to the biggest stage. He would want to make this series his own and replicate his ODI performances in the test matches.

The first match of Duleep Trophy didn’t go the way he would’ve wanted but he will get fair opportunity in these 3 matches. He had a below-average 2023 where he could score only 258 runs in 6 matches with an average of about 29 and a high score of 128. But, he was the second leading run scorer in the England series and smashed 452 runs in 5 matches with an average of nearly 57 with 2 centuries to his name.

KL Rahul is another curious case of selection. A classy batsman, who can play any format the way he wants, has been at the receiving end for his unforgettable innings in the World Cup 2023 final. The recent inclusion of him as a pure batter has given him the clarity of roles and he will be entrusted with a new type of responsibility in the middle order. He had a decent first match in the Duleep Trophy scoring 94 runs in 2 innings, leading scorer of his team.

His recent batting style hasn’t been too favorable for India and he would love to make minor changes in his style and get back to the attacking batsman that he once was. Rahul, too, had a below-average 2023 where he scored 143 runs in 3 matches with an average of about 29 and a high score of 101. However, he did well in the England series where he played only one match and scored 108 runs with an average of 54. He would like to improve his performance in the upcoming series and be on the flight to Australia.

Pace Companions of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah

The two pacers included in the Bangladesh series, Akash Deep and Yash Dayal, may get an opportunity in these two series to be confirmed as the fourth seamer for India. The three names confirmed to be on the flight are Shami, Bumrah, and Siraj. Akash Deep was fantastic in the first match of Duleep Trophy picking up 9 wickets against India B. Yash Dayal would also love to get a game to prove his ability on the big stage.

All-round Fast Bowling Option will be on cards

The recent inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the Mumbai squad for the Irani Cup opens up the spot for the fourth bowling option. Handy with the bat, Shardul’s ability to pick wickets out of nowhere could be in the mind of the selectors. If in the contention of BCCI, Shardul would probably get selected for the New Zealand series and may get a game or two depending on the captain and management.

So, for the fans and selectors, it will be exciting next few months that will ultimately lead to the BGT selection. India would not want to risk anything and lose the chance of making a hat-trick down under.