Many selection headaches await Indian team management before 1st Test v Bangladesh in Chennai.
the Indian batting order is pretty much set for the first four spots, the middle order sees KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan vying for one spot.
Sarfaraz Khan's outstanding performances in the home series against England demonstrated his brave approach, but KL Rahul's experience provides him an advantage for the final batting slot in India's playing XI for the season-opening Test series against Bangladesh, which begins September 19 in Chennai.
The team management and selection committee are focused solely on the impending tour of Australia later this year, and Rahul's experience of 50 Tests puts him in a good position. The Indian team management has to choose between Rahul’s experience and poise and Sarfaraz’s flamboyance.
"For people on the outside, they don't understand how a team works and what are the systems in place. In his last three Test matches, KL scored a century in South Africa, one of the best Test knocks in recent times, and 86 at Hyderabad in the last Test he played before injury. He was not dropped but got injured. So, he is fit and available, scored a fifty in Duleep, got match time and he will start," a BCCI source told PTI.
Sarfaraz Khan had a fantastic domestic season and had a great debut with two half-centuries against England in Rajkot and another fifty in Dharamsala. His performance demonstrated his accurate footwork and ability to manage both fast and slow bowlers.
"Sarfaraz has done everything right and mind it, if there is an injury anywhere, he will just walk in but Rahul's experience is irreplaceable. And the team management is not just looking at Bangladesh, they are looking at Australia where previous experience matters," the source added.
KL Rahul missed the last two tours of Australia due to injury but announced himself on the big stage in 2014 with an amazing ton in the SCG Test. Despite an average below 35 after 50 Tests, KL Rahul excels when it comes to scoring at big venues overseas like Sydney, Lord's, Oval, and Centurion.
The Indian team management is set to take the same route with the wicketkeeping option. With Rishabh Pant returning to the fold for the first time since December 2022, he is expected to be the first choice over young Dhruv Jurel. Jurel is a fine talent and did well in the England series but Pant is an exceptional Test player.
There will also be notable competition for the third spinner spot between Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel. Akshar has the advantage of being excellent with the bat lower down the order, but Kuldeep Yadav’s left-arm wrist spin has troubled opposition batters.
(PTI inputs)