The Indian National Cricket Team has seen a turbulent ride over the last 8 months. Ever since Virat Kohli’s announcement to step down as the Indian T20 captain after the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, the tide hasn’t been in India’s favour.
Although the limited-overs side have made a comeback after the T20 World Cup with Rohit Sharma leading and winning against New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka at home, Test Cricket has been miserable for the subcontinent giants.
With the new coaching and support setup, India’s first challenge in red-ball cricket away from home was South Africa, when they toured the Rainbow nation towards the end of 2021. India were hammered 2-1 by the Proteas.
The loss was so bitter to take that India’s most successful Test captain, Virat Kohli, announced his decision to step down after the series. The BCCI was then forced to name Rohit Sharma as the captain of the team in Tests too.
However, Rohit’s fitness remained a great challenge for the team management as he couldn’t take part in the South Africa Test tour and just as he was about to lead India in the rescheduled Test against England, he got infected with COVID-19.
With India already missing the services of their regular Test opener KL Rahul, Rohit’s absence came as a massive blow. India were hammered by the BazBall Englishmen as they stormed to a record chase of 378 runs.
The loss against England has to be a wake-up call for the selection committee and the Indian team management as India are slowly being pushed out of contention for a berth in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.
Due to the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the high frequency of white-ball games as practice for the World Cup, the Indian Cricket Team will next play a Test match in December against Bangladesh. Thus, there might be a bit of chop and change in the current Indian Test side.
In this article, let’s take a look at the 3 Indian players who were a part of India’s Test squad for the rescheduled Test against England, but they might not be seen when India take on Bangladesh later this year.
3 Indian Players Who Won’t Be A Part Of The Team When They Play Next Away Test In Bangladesh
Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari’s spot on the Indian Test side has been under the radar for the last few months. Vihari was injured the last time India toured England. Post that, he was not picked in India’s Test squad for the series against New Zealand in 2021.
With some decent knocks for India A in South Africa, Vihari earned a call back to the Indian team in the Test squad vs South Africa. In the first Test of the series against South Africa, Vihari was not picked in India’s playing XI.
He made a comeback in the Indian side for the 2nd Test as Virat Kohli was ruled out with a back spasm on the morning of the first day of the 2nd Test. Vihari contributed 20 runs in the first innings and 40 runs in the 2nd innings.
Once Virat was back for the 3rd Test, Hanuma Vihari was once again dropped from India’s playing XI of the 3rd Test. Vihari was picked for the Test series against Sri Lanka and scored 58 runs in the first innings of the first Test with team India winning the Test by an innings and 222 runs.
In the 2nd Test of the series, Vihari managed to score 31 and 35 runs in the first and second innings respectively. Vihari was picked for the rescheduled Test against England but his failure to bat in both innings has raised questions over his place in the Indian team once again.
With a flurry of Indian middle-order batters waiting in line to grab the spot with their performances in the Ranji Trophy, it will be very difficult for Vihari to retain his spot in the Indian test side until he comes in with a brilliant First-Class season.
Shubman Gill
When Shubman Gill broke onto the scene of the Indian Cricket Team, he was considered one of the brightest prospects for the team as an opener in Test Cricket. However, since the domination against Australia at the Gabba in the 2021-22 Border-Gavaskar trophy, Gill’s Test career has taken a plunge.
Gill was miserable for India in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand as he managed only 36 runs in both the innings combined. Gill was ruled out of the Test series against England in 2021, owing to an injury to his left leg.
He was picked in India’s Test squad vs New Zealand at home in 2021 and even scored a half-century in the first innings of the first Test. However, throughout the series, there was no other giant knock from Gill’s bat.
Mayank Agarwal was preferred ahead of Gill in both Tests against Sri Lanka earlier this year in the two-match series. With Gill failing to impress in the rescheduled Test against England, there is a huge possibility that Mayank Agarwal could be preferred over him in the Test series against Bangladesh given Agarwal’s ability to bat against spin in the subcontinent.
Mohammed Siraj
Although Mohammed Siraj has been exceptional for team India ever since his induction into the Indian Test side in the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2021-22, his wayward bowling in the rescheduled Test against England has raised a lot of questions.
Siraj has delivered the goods for team India throughout his short stint so far. But his performances in the Indian subcontinent with the red ball haven’t been as good as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, or Ishant Sharma.
Siraj has gone on to replace Ishant and Umesh Yadav in the Test setup whenever India plays overseas in SENA countries. However, whenever India will play in the subcontinent, it will be rare to watch them go ahead with 3 pacers in the first XI.
Hence, when the Indian Cricket Team faces Bangladesh later this year, Siraj might not be a part of the Indian squad.
