The competition for spots in Team India is one of the highest in the game. Especially for the Test XI, the management usually does not experiment too much and hence, many players do not get frequent opportunities. Therefore, a few players have not been able to get a long rope with Team India despite having the talent. In this article, we take a look at the unlucky Indian Test XI of this era.
The Ranji Trophy is the premier competition for the selectors to consider before choosing the Test squad. However, due to the massive depth of talent in India, players do not get chances often. At times, it is understandable because the management must back the selected resource with a consistent run of games. This denies the opportunity for other players, though.
Openers: Faiz Fazal (C) and Priyank Panchal
Faiz Fazal and Priyank Panchal will be the openers for this unlucky Indian Test XI of this era. Having helped Vidharbha win a few titles, Faiz Fazal will also captain the squad. Faiz has played for India but it has been in a different format. He has been selected to the Test Team in the past but has not got a lot of chances. Priyank Panchal, though, is getting selected to Team India in recent tournaments. However, he is already past 30 years of age and hence, he might not get a long rope.
Middle-Order: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Manish Pandey, Karun Nair, and Sheldon Jackson (WK)
The batsmen usually do not get a lot of chances and if they do get them, outstanding performance is needed. Abhimanyu Easwaran is still young and can have a career but by the looks of it, he might not get his due. Manish Pandey enjoys a superb record in FC Cricket but has never got a chance with India. The case of Karun Nair is well-known to everyone. Sheldon Jackson has done well for years together but never got his chance.
All-Rounders: Jalaj Saxena and Rishi Dhawan
Jalaj Saxena and Rishi Dhawan will be the all-rounders in this unlucky Indian Test XI of this era. Both these players have done exceptionally well in the Ranji Trophy and yet, have not got their due. In Rishi’s case, it is understandable because he is a medium-pace all-rounder but does not seem to possess the skill to excel overseas. In India, the players of his attributes are hardly considered. However, Jalaj Saxena has done enough but has not got his chance. The main reason is the presence of R Ashwin in the team.
Bowlers: Jaydev Unadkat, R Vinay Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem
Jaydev Unadkat, R Vinay Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem will form the core of this bowling attack. Unadkat has been a consistent performer but is not getting his chances. Vinay Kumar has retired now but he might also regret not getting enough opportunities in the Test arena. The former Karnataka player happens to be one of the best pacers in Ranji history. Nadeem is a pure spinner and with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in the fray, he has been sidelined.
