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Indian selectors have included five pacers and one fast-bowling all-rounder in the 18-member squad picked for the five-match Test series against Australia.
(Left to right): Mohamed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana. (Picture Credit: AP, AFP, PTI, Sportzpics)
India will face Australia in a five-match Test series later this year. The BCCI announced India’s 18-member squad for the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Friday (October 25) and picked as many as five pacers in the side in addition to one fast bowling all-rounder. Apart from them, three more pacers will travel with the team as reserves. The pitches in Australia assist fast bowlers more than spinners, which is why India has preferred them. But there was no place for Mohammed Shami in the squad.
Shami, who last played for India on November 19, 2023, during the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad, declared himself fit for the much-awaited Test series, but he was not considered for a place in the side by Indian selectors. Shami’s absence is a big blow to India’s chances for a third straight series win Down Under. But there are still many capable players in India’s squad who can win the matches and series for the Rohit Sharma-led side.
Here’s a look at India’s pace attack for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
Jasprit Bumrah: World No. 1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah will lead India’s pace attack in the five-match series against Australia. The 30-year-old cricketer has played seven Tests for India in Australia so far and has 32 wickets to his name. He was the key member of the Indian team that won the last two Test series Down Under, and this time again, India’s chances will depend a lot on his performances. If he manages to keep taking wickets at regular intervals, then it will become easy for India to complete the hat-trick of series win. Bumrah has done well for India in all three formats of the game since making a comeback from a long-term back injury last year and is arguably the best bowler of present times.
Mohammed Siraj: Siraj was part of the Indian team that has won the last two editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Siraj, who has 19 wickets to his name in seven Tests against the Baggy Greens, will partner Bumrah with the new ball in the absence of Shami. The 30-year-old pacer, who has 80 wickets to his name in 30 Tests played so far, has won Tests on his own for India in England and South Africa, and there will be similar expectations from him in Australia as well.
Akash Deep: Bengal pacer Akash Deep has only played in four Tests for India so far, but in those four matches he has proved his worth. The 27-year-old right-arm medium pacer is an attacking bowler who is known for making life difficult for the opposition batters, and on the pace-friendly pitches in Australia, he will be a big threat to Aussie batters.
Prasidh Krishna: Prasidh Krishna made his Test debut on December 26, 2023, against South Africa in Centurion and has only played in two Tests for India so far. The 28-year-old Karnataka pacer is seen as a long-term replacement for Ishant Sharma, who was on fire in the 2007-08 tour of Australia. Krishna has played 19 First Class matches so far and has 65 wickets to his name.
Harshit Rana: Delhi pacer Harshit Rana, who impressed everyone with his performances in IPL 2024 for KKR and in the Duleep Trophy for India D, has earned his maiden Test call-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In nine First Class matches played so far, Harshit has 36 wickets to his name, and he has also hammered 410 runs with the help of one century and one fifty in 13 innings.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Nitish Reddy is a batting all-rounder who also bowls at medium pace. The 21-year-old made a big name for himself in IPL 2024 for SRH and then got a chance to play in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh as well earlier this month. He picked up three wickets in three matches and also played a match-winning knock of 74 runs from just 34 balls in the 2nd T20I. Reddy will be a key player for India in the Australia series, as apart from giving depth to the batting unit, he can be used as a fourth fast bowling option.
In addition to the above-discussed cricketers, three pacers—Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, and Navdeep Saini—are added to India’s Test squad as reserve players for the Australia series.
