India have named a 16-man squad for the first two Tests of their upcoming home series against England.
It includes four spinners and three viable wicketkeeping options, including the uncapped 22-year-old Dhruv Jurel, in a group that gives India flexibility when it comes to selection.
Here are four questions in particular that India will need to answer ahead of the first Test at Hyderabad.
Who keeps wicket?
KL Rahul, for the first time in his Test career, donned the big gloves without alarm on the recent tour of South Africa. He is, though, an extremely inexperienced long-form wicketkeeper and it may well be that considered the need for a superior gloveman on home turf where keeping wicket is an altogether different proposition than it is in South Africa.
KS Bharat, who is included in the squad, kept throughout India’s most recent home series, against Australia last year. Currently leading the India A side, he is likely to feature again.
While his inclusion theoretically weakens the top seven, the batting proficiency of three of India’s spinners means that India’s line-up is in no danger of lacking depth. The inclusion of Jurel in the squad as a third gloveman perhaps indicates that India are intending to start with Bharat behind the stumps and instead view Rahul as a top order alternative to either Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubman Gill.
Do either of Jaiswal or Gill make way?
Should Bharat take the gloves, Rahul may well still maintain his spot in the XI. After all, it was only two Test matches ago that he scored an outstanding hundred in challenging conditions. Rahul has batted in the top three in all but four of his Test innings, and it is likely that this is where he slots into the team. Rahul’s Test record is mixed but curiously, only 16 of his 49 Test appearances have come at home. His record in India is good – he averages over 40 in home Tests.
Opting to back Rahul in the top three gives India a decision to make, to drop one of the precocious top order duo of Gill and Jaiswal. Both enjoyed outstanding 2023s: both were in scintillating form throughout the IPL; Gill emerged as one of the leading white-ball openers in the world while Jaiswal enjoyed a breakout international year, debuting (and scoring hundreds) for India in both Test and T20I cricket. The major blot on Gill’s copybook last year was his continued middling returns in the Test arena.
Since he lit up the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gill’s Test returns have been inconsistent. Twenty Tests into his career he averages only a fraction more than 30. Jaiswal, meanwhile, is only four matches into his story as a Test player. He scored a big hundred on debut in the Caribbean but failed to pass 30 on the recent tour of South Africa. One is likely to miss out to accommodate Rahul in the top three.
How to balance the bowling attack?
India’s all-round talent gives them flexibility that England can only dream of with their squad. Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin and Axar Patel are all capable top-seven batters if need be – Jadeja can bat even higher than that – which means that they should always be able to field five frontline bowling options. India have eight bowlers in their squad; four seamers and four spinners. They are likely to field three spinners and two seamers but they possess the flexibility to alter their mode of attack depending on conditions.
Kuldeep or Axar?
If, as expected, India field three spinners, there is a decision to be made over the identity of the third spinner in the XI. Jadeja and Ashwin are guaranteed picks but after that, India have the enviable choice between Axar and Kuldeep Yadav for the final berth in the XI. Axar tormented England on their previous tour of India back in 2021, taking an astonishing 27 wickets at 10.59 across three Tests. That said, he was much less prolific against Australia in 2023 – taking three wickets in four Tests – and Kuldeep offers a different mode of attack as the squad’s sole wrist-spinner. Kuldeep also possesses an excellent Test record – he averages 21 with the ball – but has only played two Tests in the last four years so is likely to start the series behind Axar in the pecking order.
