While the limited-overs series in the ongoing England tour is going to end, the Indian cricket team is now getting ready for the long five-match Test series, starting from August 1. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) will announce the Indian cricket team for the Test series after the end of the third and final ODI of the three-match ODI series at Leeds on Tuesday.
After winning the three-match T20I series by the 1-2 margins, India is now looking to win the three-match ODI series also as the series is currently levelled by 1-1 and the Tuesday’s game will be the series decider.
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According to some reports, at first, BCCI is going to announce the Test squad for the first three Test matches. Later, the cricket board will announce the Test squad for the remainder of the series.
A BCCI source told CricketNext, “See, this is not a three-game series. In such a case, you ideally pick the squad and then you proceed. But in a long five-match series, you don’t wish to pick the squad at one go. Some of the players who might be sore or have an injury and are progressing well will come into the picture as and when they are fit. Like Bumrah is certain to need time to be fit till the second Test.”
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When he was asked whether some surprise names can be picked up for the Test series or not, the source revealed that some young names are sure to be discussed in the meeting.
The source claimed, “Some of the young names are surely to be discussed, but it is too early to say who will get the nod and who will not. But performances are bound to be taken into account when the wise men sit down.”
During the crucial selection meeting, BCCI will look at some important points. Despite Rohit Sharma is returning in the form in the recent limited-overs series, where he has scored two centuries, his place in the Test series is still unsure.
Meanwhile, the left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav is going to a very important discussion during that meeting. Two experienced Indian spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s futures are also depended in this meeting.
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Injured pacer Jasprit Bumrah might earn a spot in the full-member squad but his chance to play the first Test is likely not possible. Besides that, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s latest fitness report will also be an important factor for the upcoming selection meeting.
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Indian Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is likely going to miss out at least in the squad of the first three Test matches in the ongoing English tour. It means Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel and Rishabh Pant are fighting for this important responsibility.
