New Zealand vs India 2020: Five Indian Players Who Might Warm The Bench In Test Series
Feb 18, 2020 at 5:15 PM
Since the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21 has started, India will first time play an away Test series against New Zealand which will start from 21st February. The first Test match will be played at Basin Reserve in Wellington while the second game will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from February 29.
Meanwhile, before heading to play the Test series, the two sides participated in the three-day practice game. The warm-up match might have given India’s team management clarity over the players who will be the part of playing XI in the Test series.
In this article, we have discussed five Indian players who might warm the bench for the New Zealand Test series.
5 Indian Players Who Might Warm The Bench In New Zealand Test Series:
1.Shubman Gill:
As Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the Test series, it gave the youngster Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill a major chance to grab the opportunity. However, the latter has failed to impress with his performance in the warm-up games. He had a poor show in Hamilton.
Before playing the three-day practice match, India A played two unofficial Test matches against New Zealand A where Shubman Gill scored a double century and a century. His profile performance led team management to choose between him and Shaw.
However, the practice match didn’t go well for Gill as he was dismissed cheaply in both innings. In first innings, he got out on duck while in the second, he scored eight runs.
Given that Shaw fared better than Gill in the practice match versus New Zealand XI, the latter might be benched for the series.
2. Rishabh Pant:
The youngster Rishabh Pant played in his customary manner, scoring 70 off 65 balls in the second innings against New Zealand XI. However, it’s too late for the player to get his position back in the batting line up.
Even though he is better batsman compared to his senior Wriddhiman Saha, Pant has lost his credibility as the wicketkeeper. Last year, in the home season, Pant lost his place to Saha as the latter went on to impress with his unbelievable wicketkeeping skills behind the stumps. Thus, Saha is likely to get a nod ahead of Pant.
Talking about Saha’s batting, he was out on a duck in the first innings while in the second he scored unbeaten 30 off 38 balls.
However, Pant is likely to miss his place in the playing XI. He would only get the chance if someone from the playing XI gets injured.
3. Navdeep Saini:
The youngster after impressing during the limited-over formats earned the maiden call-up in the Test series. On the bouncy pitches of New Zealand, his ability to clock 140 kph might be an advantage for visitors. But Virat Kohli would like to go with the experience of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
Indian skipper would like to end the series on a winning note after facing defeat in the three-match ODI series. And also, this series is the part of ICC Test Championship so gaining points will be important for the team to maintain the top position.
Therefore, the 27-year-old might have to wait to make the debut in the longest format of cricket.
4. Umesh Yadav
The pacer is the central figure of the team in domestic cricket but he hasn’t created much impact on foreign pitches. Thus, he is likely to lose his place in this Test series.
Also, there is healthy competition for the place within the bowling department, especially among fast bowlers.
Last year, Yadav was called back to the team after Jasprit Bumrah surfaced with the injury. As the latter is back in the squad, Yadav is likely to be benched for the series.
Moreover, he hasn’t played a game on New Zealand soil. He has just picked seven wickets in four games against kiwis. So by any means, he is most likely to be excluded from the playing XI.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin:
At one point, Ravichandran Ashwin was the first-choice among spinner but the time has changed. The rise of Ravindra Jadeja as a bowler and as a batsman has pushed Ashwin on the backfoot.
Moreover, New Zealand’s conditions favour the pace bowlers, which is why Kohli will most likely keep Ashwin on the bench.
Jadeja is most likely to get the chance while Hanuma Vihari’s part-time bowling skill has more reduced the chance of Ashwin’s place in the final XI.
All things considered, the 33-year-old will have to warm the bench. As India will most likely start with three pacers, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, while Jadeja and Vihari will be ahead of Ashwin in the bowling department.