Ravi Shastri Recommends In-Form IPL Star for England Test Series

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels that youngster Sai Sudharsan can be picked for the upcoming Test series against England. Sudharsan, who has been in great form this season's Indian Premier League (IPL), is placed second on the list of top run-scorers with 456 runs for Gujarat Titans. Shastri believes that Sudharsan, who is renowned for his elegant batting and good technique, may prove to be a key player in English conditions, which are said to be tough for most cricketers. His exposure to county cricket also contributes to his potential to perform well in England.

India's Test series against England will start on June 20, with the team commencing the new World Test Championship cycle. This tour will be crucial for India, particularly following their hard-fought defeats to Australia and New Zealand in recent tours. The team for this tour will be in the spotlight as the selectors would have to finalize who will be playing for India following a disastrous year of Test cricket. Sudharsan is one person Shastri has great hopes for and believes can succeed at all levels of the game. His experience of playing against high-quality opposition makes him a player to look out for in the future.

Talking about Sudharsan, Shastri appreciated his left-handed batting technique, which he feels will be a major strength in England. Left-handed batsmen have tended to prosper on English wickets, which at times can provide help to bowlers. Sudharsan's technique and style are perfect for these conditions, and hence he is a top pick for Shastri. He believes that the young batsman possesses all those traits that can make an impact and should be given a chance in the national team. Shastri says Sudharsan's impressive performances in domestic cricket and the IPL prove that he has the ability to deal with the pressure of international cricket.

Besides Sudharsan, Shastri also identified Shreyas Iyer as another cricketer who might have a comeback in the Test team. Iyer has played white-ball cricket as well as IPL in impeccable touch and been India's sure-footed campaigner. Though, Shastri pointed out, Iyer will have his job cut out against the players looking to compete with him to gain a slot in the side, particularly the Tests. When so many deserving cricketers are in contention, the struggle to find berths in the side will not be easy for anyone. Though Iyer's performance in limited-overs cricket is brilliant, the selectors will need to evaluate the performance of other players while choosing the team for England.

India's bowling line-up is another aspect that Shastri feels requires improvement. With the return of regular pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami from injury breaks, India's pace attack will gain added strength. But Shastri also wanted a left-arm seamer in the team. Left-arm bowlers are always useful players in Test cricket, and Shastri feels that the inclusion of one in the team might provide India with the right balance. He said that he would be monitoring who the good left-arm bowlers are before the series.

Shastri pointed out that it may not be a concern that the bowler has played most of their cricket in white-ball cricket. He spoke of Arshdeep Singh, the bowler who has played most of his international cricket for India in T20I games, and said that he is convinced that Arshdeep can perform in Test cricket as well. Shastri highlighted that Arshdeep possesses the attitude and talent required for red-ball cricket, and he might be a top contender for the left-arm seamer position. He added that if Arshdeep is able to bowl long spells, like 15 to 20 overs in a match, he might find a place in the Test team.

Shastri also referred to other left-arm bowlers such as Khaleel Ahmed, who has been in good form and bowling nicely. He emphasized that the selectors should aim to select the best available left-arm seamer, irrespective of whether they are associated with playing in limited-overs cricket or not. The concept, Shastri explained, is to make sure India has a nice balance of bowlers, including the key left-arm choice.

As the England series approaches, the selection of the squad will be critical. With a mix of talented batters and bowlers, including young players like Sudharsan, Iyer, and potential left-arm bowlers, India has a lot of options to consider. Shastri’s suggestions reflect his belief in the importance of a balanced team with a variety of skills, especially when playing in challenging conditions like England. It will be intriguing to observe how the selectors weigh form, experience, and potential while taking their final calls for the Test series.