Notable players have sat on Team India’s bench in Test cricket in recent years. Ravichandran Ashwin, who is one of the top-ranked Test bowlers and all-rounders, was dropped from the playing XI for the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final, which resulted in India’s comprehensive defeat. Meanwhile, players who deserve a spot in the squad, such as Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran, are not currently included. The upcoming West Indies tour will see a few fresh faces in the mix, including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, but it will also have some players who may not get a chance to showcase their skills on the global stage. Here are three Indian players who may not get a single game during the West Indies Test series.
What’s the reason behind Navdeep Saini’s selection in the Indian Test team for the West Indies tour? His numbers in first-class cricket are not hugely impressive, and he hasn’t had any notable performances in recent times either. Saini has picked up four wickets in two Tests at an average of 43, and his first-class average of 28.36 is decent but unspectacular. Although he has pace and experience playing with the red ball, it’s unlikely that he’ll be preferred over Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Mukesh Kumar against the West Indies. Given the probability of spin-friendly pitches, Saini may be forced to sit on the bench.
Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan has never played Test cricket, despite featuring in 41 international matches. However, with Rishabh Pant out of the fold, Kishan has become KS Bharat’s backup in the format.Kishan’s first-class statistics are unimpressive, with an average of 38.76 in 48 matches, and a strike rate below 70. India has shown faith in Bharat, who has proven his worth behind the stumps, even though his performances in front of them haven’t been too inspiring. The team management is unlikely to drop Bharat against the Windies, although they could run out of patience with the 29-year-old in the near future.
Axar Patel
Axar Patel has an impressive batting average of 36.64 and a bowling average of 17.16 in Test cricket. However, Ravindra Jadeja’s exceptional performances with both bat and ball mean that Axar will have to either wait for his chance or feature in a three-pronged spin attack alongside his left-arm spin partner and Ravichandran Ashwin. Although West Indies pitches could be spin-friendly, it’s unlikely that India will pick three specialist spinners. Axar may have to sit on the bench as Jadeja and Ashwin play ahead of him. Nonetheless, if he gets an opportunity, the talented 29-year-old will probably pose a significant challenge for the home side.
