The Indian Cricket Board revealed its squad for the Test Championship final, and fans were overjoyed with the choices. The one selection that has piqued everyone’s interest is that of Ajinkya Rahane. However, some choices have also raised eyebrows.
Given the recent performances in the series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, fans were surprised to see KS Bharat in the squad. In this article, we will look at some players who could have replaced Bharat in India’s Test Championship squad.
Wriddhiman Saha has not played international cricket since December 2021, yet he has extensive experience playing in overseas conditions. The West Bengal born is a technically sound wicketkeeper who has also been in good form with the bat. While his odds of returning to the team are slim, he could have been an outstanding substitute for KS Bharat.
2. Ishan Kishan
The Jharkhand-born Ishan Kishan has not made his Test debut yet but has become a regular member of the Indian white-ball team. He has done well for the team in the limited opportunities that he has gotten. The 24-year-old could have played an attacking role similar to that of Rishabh Pant, who is out due to the injuries he suffered in a car crash in December last year, lower in the batting order.
Sarfaraz Khan of Mumbai has been hoping for an Indian Test call-up for a long time. The Indian selection committee, however, has ignored all of his recent domestic performances. The 25-year-old has been a stalwart in the Ranji Trophy in recent years, and he also helped Mumbai reach the finals in the 2021-22 season. Sarfaraz has the second-highest First-Class average in history. In 36 games, he averages a remarkable 80.47, second only to the legendary Sir Don Bradman, who averaged 95.14 in 234 games.