The upcoming first Test between India and Australia is a special Test for both Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat. Both the players are set to make their Test debuts in the first match of the four-match series.
Suryakumar Yadav earned his maiden call-up from the Test team after his stunning exploits in T20I cricket over the last couple of years. He was recently named the Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
He earned the recognition after a stunning 2022 with the bat that saw him become the first Indian batter to score 1000 runs or more in a calendar year. He had dethroned Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan to become the new No.1 batter in the ICC T20I rankings last year.
Also Read: IND vs AUS 2023: Sachin Tendulkar Delivers His Verdict On Suryakumar Yadav As A Test Batsman
In 2022, Suryakumar Yadav smashed 1164 runs in 31 matches at an average of 46.56 and a stunning strike rate of 187.43. The right-handed batsman hit 68 sixes in the 2022 season – the most by any T20I batter in a year.
And the performances in the shortest format of the game finally helped him break into the Test team. With Shreyas Iyer injured, Suryakumar Yadav has got the opportunity to bat in the middle-order in the first Test and will be keen to prove himself.
Just like Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat is also playing his first Test as an injury replacement. The wicketkeeper-batsman has finally got a chance in the playing eleven due to Rishabh Pant’s absence. Bharat has been Pant’s understudy for over a year now and will be desperate to make a point in Nagpur.
BCCI’s gesture for Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat:
The BCCI came up with a fine gesture to make the day even more memorable for Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat. The Indian cricket board made sure to invite both the players’ family members inside the ground on the day they made their much-awaited debut in the oldest format of the game.
Usually the family members applaud the player from the stands but the BCCI decided to invite Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat’s families on the field as they received their Test caps.
Not only that, India head coach Rahul Dravid walked up to the family members and shook hands with them.
Coach Rahul Dravid meets both players' family members and shakes hands. https://t.co/mwlEBy3R5K
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) February 9, 2023
SKY makes his TEST DEBUT as he receives the Test cap from former Head Coach @RaviShastriOfc ? ?
Good luck @surya_14kumar ? ?#TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/JVRyK0Vh4u
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2023