New Delhi: Rishabh Pant is set to make his comeback to Test cricket, having been named in India’s 16-man squad for the opening Test against Bangladesh. This will be his first Test appearance in nearly 20 months. Joining him in the squad are Virat Kohli, who was previously absent due to the birth of his second child, and Jasprit Bumrah, who has been missing since the T20 World Cup.
The first Test will begin on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, followed by the second Test at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, starting on September 27.
The squad announcement has been notable for the exclusion of several prominent players, including Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami.
Shreyas Iyer’s Exclusion: Iyer’s omission is particularly surprising given his recent strong performances in ODIs and a notable half-century in the Duleep Trophy. Despite this, inconsistent red-ball performances and a challenging year appear to have influenced the selectors’ decision. Iyer’s recent injury during the Test series against England, removal from BCCI’s central contracts, and unavailability for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy contributed to his exclusion. Additionally, his recent performances in longer formats, including the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, have been less convincing. While he led the Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL 2024 title, competition for middle-order positions, including the rise of Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul’s consistent form, has also played a role.
Mohammed Shami’s Absence: Despite earlier indications from BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar that Shami might return for the Bangladesh series, he has not been included in the squad. Shami is still in the process of recovering and is expected to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy starting October 11 before rejoining the national team. There is also speculation that he could miss at least the first Test of the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand.
These changes reflect the ongoing adjustments and strategic decisions by the selectors as they prepare for the series against Bangladesh and future fixtures.
