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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s Men’s Selection Committee on Friday, October 25 announced India’s squad for the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to be played from November 22 down under. Bringing surprise as well as shock, Mohammed Shami continues to sit out from the squad as he continues his recovery after undergoing a surgery earlier this year.
Despite Shami’s omission, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep will lead pace attack whereas Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will lead the spin attack on their trip to Australia. With no Shami, the Indian team management has opted for a strong fast bowling lineup, adding Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed.
Harshit Rana has been completely Gautam Gambhir's choice: BCCI official
Rana, who has got a nod ahead of several others with no international experience till date was revealed to be the pick of Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. A BCCI official speaking with PTI revealed the details around Harshit Rana’s inclusion, adding that he pipped all because of Gambhir. “Harshit Rana has been completely Gautam Gambhir's choice. He has been pushing his case for the longest time since the start of the Sri Lanka tour. He was also kept as a reserve bowler. Since he is younger and quicker than both Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, he has pipped them to the final squad,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Talking about Harshit Rana, the Delhi pacer has played only nine First-Class matches and has taken 36 wickets. He had a good Duleep Trophy campaign, finishing with two four-wicket hauls in two matches. Moreover, Rana has bowled consistently around 140 kmph and is able to nail yorkers along with good length short ball.
Nitish is a desperate choice: BCCI official
Apart from Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently made his India debut in the Bangladesh series, has also earned maiden Test call-up. In the 18-member squad, Reddy is the only seam-bowling all-rounder and boasts of one century and two five-wicket hauls in his 21 First-Class matches. Moreover, Reddy gets a nod with Hardik Pandya opting out from playing red-ball cricket and injury to Shivam Dube.
“Hardik Pandya has stopped playing red-ball cricket and Shivam Dube's (he is injured) bowling isn't up to the mark. Nitish is a work in progress but if India are to bring in balance, they need their fourth seamer to be an all-rounder. Hence Nitish is a desperate choice going by his IPL and Bangladesh series performance,” the source added.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
