NZ v IND 2020: 3 possible replacements for Ishant Sharma for the New Zealand Test series

Ishant Sharma has injured tendons in his ankle and has been advised rest for atleast six weeks.

The Indian team will kick off their New Zealand tour with a five-match T20I series, followed by three One-day internationals. However, the true test of the visitors will come when the two sides clash in two Test matches which will be played under the banner of the ICC World Test Championships with points on the table.

NZ v IND 2020: Ishant Sharma ruled out of New Zealand Tests: DDCA official

However, there is a chance that the Indian team might be without one of their best weapons in Ishant Sharma. The 96-Test veteran was recently injured during a Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Vidarbha. While appealing for an LBW against opposition captain Faiz Fazal, Ishant twisted his ankle and fell. He was writhing in pain and was helped out of the field by medical staff and now has been referred to the NCA in Bengaluru for recovery.

Keeping the possibility of Ishant missing the Test series, Team COC presents to you the three possible replacements in the Indian team.

Check them out here:

MOHAMMED SIRAJ

The Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj has played one ODI and 3 T20Is for India, apart from playing 33 FC matches for his domestic side and India A. He has been a regular feature in India A side and though his 3 international wickets have come in each of his T20I matches; he has shown promise in red-ball cricket more than white-ball game.

Mohammed Siraj has given up biryani to stay fit to bowl with pace and skill

Siraj has 142 wickets in FC matches with the best of 8/59, bowling figures which came against a formidable Australia A team. He has picked his wickets with an average of 21.48 and a strike rate of 42.00. He also has shown amazing control with the red ball and Siraj’s ability to swing the ball at a decently good pace may earn him a call-up to the Indian Test team to replace Ishant.

RAJNEESH GURBANI

Rajneesh Gurbani has played a big role in Vidarbha winning the Ranji Trophy two times in two seasons. The 26-year-old is a pure swing bowler who relies on the swing rather than pace to deceive batsmen and was Vidarbha's go-to man, on the road to their maiden Ranji Trophy final, snaring five five-wicket hauls starting from their last group-stage game.

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He is also the only second bowler to pick a hat-trick in the Ranji final. In 28 FC matches, he has picked 93 wickets at a strike rate of 46.5 and an average of 24.01, his best bowling is 7/68 and his ability to swing the ball prodigiously may come in handy when India plays Tests in New Zealand starting February.

NAVDEEP SAINI

Navdeep Saini has taken the cricketing world by storm as soon as he made his debut in international cricket for India. The Delhi boy has both speed and ability to move the ball in the air and off the pitch as well. For someone who has clocked over 150 kph on Indian pitches, Saini will be deadly on New Zealand surfaces, which offer both bounce and movement off the pitch.

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Saini has 125 wickets in 45 FC matches with the best bowling of 6/32 at an average of 28.30 and a strike rate of 32.1. He has performed well for India C in Duleep Trophy, India A and Delhi in domestic matches and has done well in international matches with 11 wickets in 8 T20Is and 5 wickets in 3 ODI matches. He has been picked for the white ball encounters against Black Caps and if impressive enough in the T20Is and ODIs, Saini might put his hand up for selection in Test matches as well, in case Ishant is ruled out.