3 Uncapped Players Who Could Be Picked For IND vs WI Test Series: India suffered another heartbreak in an ICC knockout match as Rohit Sharma’s side lost the WTC Final 2023 to Australia by 209 runs. Australia outplayed India in all three departments at The Oval and took the ICC Test mace.
The Indian players have a one-month welcome break from cricketing action now. India’s next Test series in July in the West Indies, which will start their 2023-25 WTC cycle.
The loss in WTC 2023 final is set to force the selectors to drop some of the players, such as Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav, who have not been in good form and have aged too. The selectors and the management would want to energize the squad with some fresh blood who have been in good nick in domestic cricket to plan for the future of the Test team.
Here are 3 Uncapped Players Who Could Be Picked For IND vs WI Test Series:
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad was selected as a reserve player in the Indian contingent for the WTC Final but the opener pulled out due to his marriage, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was roped in as a reserve batter. For the West Indies tour, Gaikwad could be back in the reckoning and could even line-up for a Test debut in West Indies.
There is a possibility that India use Shubman Gill in the middle-order and that would open up a space at the top of the order which could be filled by Gaikwad.
He has shown consistency in his IPL and domestic form over the past few years and is now set for an India Test debut. Gaikwad was impressive first-class numbers: in 28 FC matches, he averages 42 with 6 centuries and 9 fifties.
Sarfaraz Khan
It’s about time that India hand Sarfaraz Khan a deserved Test debut after ignoring him for a long time despite his heroics in the red-ball format in domestic cricket. The Mumbai batter has been a prolific run-scorer over the past three Ranji seasons.
He had two consecutive seasons where he piled up over 900 runs. And in Ranji Trophy 2022/23 season, Sarfaraz Khan amassed 556 runs at a gigantic average of 92.
Mukesh Kumar
Bengal fast bowler Mukesh Kumar has been part of the Indian Test setup for the past year, but has remained on the bench as backup or reserve pacer. However, now, after Umesh Yadav’s poor showing in the WTC Final, Umesh is likely to be dropped and Mukesh could get his debut Test in West Indies.
Mukesh has taken 149 wickets in 39 first-class matches at a terrific average of 21 with 8 four-wicket hauls and 6 five-wicket hauls.
