Image Credit- ICC
An early invitation to participate in the India ‘A’
side’s three-match’shadow tour’ of South Africa may be extended to some of the
senior team’s Test specialists. This is a prelude to the crucial two-match Test
series that begins on December 26.
The BCCI has always organised “A” team trips
to nations where the senior team is scheduled to play Test matches. However,
following the Bangladesh series in 2018, the ODI World Cup took precedence over
the pathways cricket (A team tours, U-19 series).
It is anticipated that domestic talents will have an
opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, though, as there will be five or
six first-class ‘A’ games in December and January.
“Yes, there are three four-day Tests between
India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’ next month. The team for that will be announced
in some days. Most of the consistent young performers along with those
(seniors) who need some game time before the two Test matches in Centurion
(December 26 to 30) and Cape Town (January 3-7) will be there,” a BCCI
source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Senior players like Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran
Ashwin, and Jaydev Unadkat might be interested in playing at least one four-day
match as a warm-up for the African challenge, but players like Abhimanyu
Easwaran, B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Dhull, Kona Bharat, Upendra Yadav, and Saurabh
Kumar are undoubtedly going to be important.
The two red-ball off-spinners who are frequently
called upon in the India nets during Test series, Test discard Jayant Yadav and
Services off-spinner Pulkit Narang, might also be mentioned.
Among the young pacers, Vidwath Kaverappa, Kuldeep
Sen, Harshit Rana and Umran Malik could well be in the mix with old guards like
Navdeep Saini.
Mayank Agarwal was Ranji Trophy’s highest scorer last
season but with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jasiwal, Shubman Gill in the scheme of
things, whether the Karnataka veteran will get a recall is there to be seen.