As India braces for a comprehensive red-ball reboot after an extensive period dominated by short-form cricket, the 2024 Duleep Trophy is perfectly timed to serve as the launch pad for a crucial stretch of 10 Test matches over the next four and a half months. The initial round of action, set to kick off on September 5, presents a golden opportunity for the cream of India’s domestic talent to adapt to the unique demands of Test cricket and make an impactful first impression.
While the Test squad largely establishes itself across most roles, including the back-ups, a few questions still loom large. Foremost among these uncertainties is the fast bowling department, which has proven to be the most fragile. The injury to Mohammed Shami, who is still on the mend almost a year after his notable performances in the ODI World Cup, has necessitated the search for a reliable third seamer. Mukesh Kumar appeared to be the leading contender for this role at the start of the Test series against England earlier this year. However, an underwhelming performance in Visakhapatnam saw his slot go to Akash Deep, who impressed in his solitary Test appearance.
The coveted position of India’s third or fourth seamer remains open, rendering the Duleep Trophy a critical event in determining the frontrunner for this role. Beyond Mukesh and Akash, a host of pacers is vying for a spot. Prasidh Krishna, despite missing the recent Maharaja T20 Trophy due to injury and being absent for the initial Duleep Trophy game, remains a strong candidate. Additionally, Khaleel Ahmed, who has yet to prove his red-ball credentials thoroughly, and Avesh Khan, knocking on the selectors’ doors, are in contention. Rising stars from domestic cricket, such as Yash Dayal, Vidwath Kaverappa, and Vyshak Vijaykumar, await their opportunities at the international level. Other notable names include Sandeep Warrier, Tushar Deshpande, Harshit Rana, and Navdeep Saini, each bringing unique skills to the table.
The plethora of options poses a significant challenge for the selectors and the team management as they prepare for the forthcoming five months. They seek pacers who can perform well in India, offer something different in Australia, and be earmarked for long-term roles. Paras Mhambrey, India’s bowling coach until the recent triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, sees this as an opportunity to assess the bowlers across multiple metrics. “We have a substantial amount of Test cricket ahead. A pool of bowlers is essential to navigate the 10 Test matches India will play because there will be instances to rest Bumrah or Siraj. It’s promising to see several bowlers in the reckoning or near selection,” Mhambrey shared in an interview with Cricbuzz.
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Mhambrey highlights the importance of understanding how these bowlers perform in various phases of a game. “On flatter wickets, adaptations in their third or fourth spell can provide a clear picture of their fitness, game understanding, and overall competency. Shortlisting six or seven quality fast bowlers for rotation is crucial,” Mhambrey elaborated.
Shortlisting these names requires a meticulous process, given the pool of frontline pacers chosen for the Duleep Trophy teams totals up to 17. Considering the conditions in Bengaluru and Anantpur, team management and captains may opt for line-ups with no more than two pacers. However, this could be offset by the senior team’s needs, opening rooms for rotations.
“If a particular bowler is in the selector’s scheme, they might have a word with the captains for specific phases of play,” Mhambrey explained. “It’s a personal conversation about when to bowl someone, such as post-lunch or at day’s end, to assess a player’s capacity in critical moments.”
Adding depth to the selection criteria, Mhambrey is looking ahead to challenging tours, like the England tour next year and the marquee series in Australia in a little over two months. Among the 17 pacers, Navdeep Saini stands out with previous red-ball experience in Australia. “In India, typically, no more than two seamers are used due to pitch conditions, but in Australia’s Kookaburra conditions, early overs are crucial for picking wickets—a skillset that will be vital,” Mhambrey said.
Prasidh’s recovery from a quadriceps injury looms large as he is set to miss the opening Duleep Trophy game. Whether he will participate later remains uncertain, yet he remains a crucial name for the selectors.
The quest for a left-arm pace option also gains attention, with Khaleel, Dayal, and Arshdeep ready to showcase their talent. “I want to see three or four left-armers in India’s future scheme. They offer a different angle,” Mhambrey suggested.
Form remains a pivotal criterion for immediate selections, such as the series against Bangladesh. “For those like Avesh and Khaleel, strong form could secure their position as third or fourth seamers,” Mhambrey noted, citing Akash Deep’s surprise call-up for the England series, based on stellar performances against the England Lions.
As the Duleep Trophy unfolds, instant rewards await those ready to make big impressions, paving the way to a pivotal role in India’s red-ball future.