The recent injury crisis in the Indian team might be a blessing in a disguise for those fringe players who have trying hard to break into the national team. The limited-overs series against England starts on January 15 and with several players all but ruled out of the series, the selectors will have an opportunity to test those who have been doing well in domestic circuit.
In this article, we will have a look at those bowlers who can replace the frontline tweakers of the team. With India set to play a four-match Test series against Australia from February, selectors have hinted that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be rested against England while Jayant Yadav and Axar Patel, in all probability, will miss the series as they are still recovering from their injuries. The scenario has opened the gates for some spinners who have been performing well in the domestic arena and here we are look at five bowlers who might get a call for the upcoming series:
5. Bhargav Bhatt:
Although Bhargav Bhatt is not on the selectors’ radar for a spot in the Indian team, he has the credentials to convince them to consider him for the upcoming series. Playing for Andhra Pradesh, the former Baroda left-arm spinner has picked up 38 wickets in nine Ranji Trophy matches this season. His track record is also impressive which can bring him into contention for the spinner’s place in the team. In his debut Ranji season, he picked up 47 wickets in nine matches to lead the wicket-takers tally and steered Baroda to final. He can definitely be an interesting option.
Special mention:
Harbhajan Singh:
The veteran off-spinner was recalled by the Indian team during the T20 series in Australia earlier this year and was also a part of the squad for the Asia Cup and World T20. And although he did not get enough playing opportunities, he is a proven customer and with Champions Trophy to be played in England next year, Harbhajan’s experience will surely come in handy for MS Dhoni’s side.