COLOMBO: Indian selectors are considering picking left-arm bowler Arshdeep Singh for the Test team despite him only playing limited-overs cricket so far. He impressed during India’s T20 World Cup win and there are talks that he might be included in the Test squad for the Australia tour later this year.
The Punjab and Punjab Kings pacer took 17 wickets to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, along with Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi.
“Arshdeep has moved the ball impressively in white-ball matches for India. He could be asked to play a few domestic red-ball games, starting with the Duleep Trophy on September 5, to enhance his chances of selection for the Australia tour. There’s a real chance that he could be India’s trump card, along with (Jasprit) Bumrah, in Australia.
“In fact, the selectors are keen on another left-arm pace option in the white-ball side at least, which is why Khaleel Ahmed toured Zimbabwe and has been picked for both the ODIs and T20Is in Sri Lanka,” a source told TOI.
Varma injury gave Parag a chance
TOI has learnt that Riyan Parag‘s selection for both the white-ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour was helped by the fact that middle-order batsman Tilak Varma is currently injured.
“Parag is highly talented and has improved his attitude towards the game by several notches. He’s now looking to stay at the wicket. To add to his value, he can bowl decently, and is a terrific fielder to boot. The selectors want to nurture him for the future,” the source told TOI.
It’s with the idea of nurturing for a specific role that pacer Harshit Rana has been picked too, in the ODIs. “He can bowl yorkers, slower balls and employ other variations at the death. That makes him a good option in white-ball cricket,” the source added.
The Punjab and Punjab Kings pacer took 17 wickets to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, along with Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi.
“Arshdeep has moved the ball impressively in white-ball matches for India. He could be asked to play a few domestic red-ball games, starting with the Duleep Trophy on September 5, to enhance his chances of selection for the Australia tour. There’s a real chance that he could be India’s trump card, along with (Jasprit) Bumrah, in Australia.
“In fact, the selectors are keen on another left-arm pace option in the white-ball side at least, which is why Khaleel Ahmed toured Zimbabwe and has been picked for both the ODIs and T20Is in Sri Lanka,” a source told TOI.
Varma injury gave Parag a chance
TOI has learnt that Riyan Parag‘s selection for both the white-ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour was helped by the fact that middle-order batsman Tilak Varma is currently injured.
“Parag is highly talented and has improved his attitude towards the game by several notches. He’s now looking to stay at the wicket. To add to his value, he can bowl decently, and is a terrific fielder to boot. The selectors want to nurture him for the future,” the source told TOI.
It’s with the idea of nurturing for a specific role that pacer Harshit Rana has been picked too, in the ODIs. “He can bowl yorkers, slower balls and employ other variations at the death. That makes him a good option in white-ball cricket,” the source added.