Team India will leave for Bangladesh right after returning from New Zealand and will face them in 3 ODIs and 2 Test matches from December 4 to 26. All the star players who have been rested for the NZ tour will mark their return for the Bangladesh series. Rohit Sharma will lead the team and will be assisted by KL Rahul.
Ravindra Jadeja though won’t make it to the squad. He was named in the original squad but his availability wasn’t confirmed. Cricbuzz has now reported that the star all-rounder isn’t completely fit and will miss the tour due to a knee issue.
The same issue kept him out of the 2022 T20 World Cup and he might make his comeback in 2023. In Jadeja’s absence, the outgoing selection committee might name a replacement. As the fans wait for an official word, here we have a look at 3 players who can replace Ravindra Jadeja in the Test team for the Bangladesh tour.
Suryakumar Yadav
Even though Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t played a first-class game for nearly 3 years, his red-hot form in international cricket makes him one of the strongest contenders to make a comeback in the Test team. His white-ball form saw him earn his maiden Test call-up in 2021 but Suryakumar is uncapped in the format.
The right-handed batsman is in sublime form and the selection committee can pick him in the Test team once again. A former Mumbai Ranji Trophy captain, Suryakumar has 5326 runs in 77 first-class matches at an average of 44.01. His tally includes 14 centuries.
Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari’s exclusion from the Test team was a shocking one. Earlier this year, the team management seemingly prepared him for the number 3 role against Sri Lanka and England. But he was surprisingly ignored for a place in the India A team for the home series against New Zealand A and was later dropped for the Bangladesh series.
Vihari’s absence can end if the selectors decide to send a proper batsman who can chip in with some overs. The right-handed batsman has 839 runs in 16 matches at 33.56.
Saurabh Kumar
Should India opt for a frontline left-arm off-spinner, Saurabh Kumar will get the nod. He was part of the Test team for the series against Sri Lanka but didn’t get a chance in the presence of R Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar Patel. If selected, he will once again face stiff competition from others.
Saurabh shone for India A and took a nine-for in the 2nd unofficial Test match against NZ A. He followed up with three-for while playing for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup last month.
