Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma face the challenge of selecting the playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh from the 16-member squad. While the selection committee has chosen the best available options, the final XI presents some tricky decisions. As Gambhir puts it, “It’s a good headache to have.”
Some players are obvious starters, but a few spots remain competitive. In the middle-order, Sarfaraz Khan is vying with KL Rahul for the No. 5 spot, while Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are competing for the wicketkeeper position.
Former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes Rahul’s strong overseas record, especially in Australia, gives him an edge over Sarfaraz, who has only played one home series. “They are also thinking about the Australia series and New Zealand’s tour. KL Rahul has performed well overseas, especially in Australia,” Srikkanth said.
Rahul, with 50 Tests under his belt, has been a key part of India’s red-ball setup, and the team management is likely to give him more opportunities ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is set to make his Test comeback after a serious car accident in December 2022 that sidelined him for 15 months. “Pant has impressed since his return to elite cricket,” added Srikkanth. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has kept up his form across formats, contributing to India’s T20 World Cup win in June.