Test transition commences: Pujara makes way for Yashasvi; Mukesh in place of Umesh

NEWS – India’s squads for West Indies Tests and ODI series announced.

TEST Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd.… pic.twitter.com/w6IzLEhy63

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 23, 2023

As reported by this newspaper previously, the selectors and the team management have been planning to start the transition with one spot at time as they want avoid a scenario where all the experienced batsmen are made to make way like it did after Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar retired between 2012-2013.

The change has started with Pujara, who has struggled for consistency. Though the 35-year-old veteran of 102 Tests has been scoring heavily in the County circuit since the 2022 season, he hasn’t been able to replicate the same for India.

Cheteshwar Pujara in action. (FILE)

Over the years, opposition teams have found a way to pin down Pujara at one end, which has put pressure on the batsmen at the other end. Even when Pujara was handed a recall just six months after being dropped, it is understood that there were apprehensions from Dravid then, who wanted to bring a new face. But sans A tour programs to gauge the development the domestic players had made, there was a bit of hesitance and as a result Pujara was brought back for the one-off Test against England in 2022. It is understood that the selectors were keen on handing an opportunity to a newcomer against West Indies itself rather than exposing him in South Africa later this year, where Pujara averages only 28.15 in 10 Tests, across four trips.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal, who has been scoring across all formats in the domestic arena, has been seen as a player who is ready for the big league and has been handed a berth for the Tests against West Indies. The 21-year-old, originally an opener, is seen by the selectors as an ideal batsman for the No 3 slot thanks to his strong temperament and game – which is built on strong technique – that allows him to easily switch between defence and offence.

With a very good forward defensive shot in the armour, Jaiswal has looked assured when it comes to handling extreme pace in the IPL, and is known to be a clear striker of the ball. While he has been named as Pujara’s replacement, the selectors will leave it to the team management to decide if they want him to bat No 3 or slot him as an opener. In that case, Shubman Gill, being touted to bat at No 4 once Virat Kohli hangs up his boots, will bat at No 3.

Virat Kohli in action. (FILE)

Moreover, when it comes to openers, selectors reckon there are plenty of options to consider in the future with the likes of B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Dhull, Devdutt Padikkal, Rohan Kunnummal in the fray. And should India persist with Gill at the top for the time being, the selectors feel Jaiswal can seamlessly slot in at one drop as he also provides the sort of balance India have lacked in the batting unit in recent years by virtue of being a left-hander. As far as Gaikwad goes, the selectors and the team management are seeing him as back-up option for the middle-order, as he can also come handy when it comes to facing the second new ball. Although he plays as an opener in whiteball cricket, Gaikwad has been batting in the middle-order in longer format, and is a strokemaker, the sort of one India prefer having down the road in Tests. It is understood that Gaikwad got the nod ahead of Sarfaraz Khan, who is still awaiting a call up despite being the most consistent performer in the domestic set-up.

For Pujara, who played his 100th Test, earlier this year, this could be curtains in international cricket, which started against Australia in 2010. Taking over the No 3 slot after his idol Dravid announced his retirement in 2012, Pujara fit into the role seamlessly starting with telling contributions against England and Australia at home and has so far scored 7195 runs, that includes 19 centuries. However, Pujara would feel his average of 43.6 could have been much better, especially because he had the penchant for scoring daddy hundreds right from his age-group cricket.

Mukesh, Saini in
As expected, the selectors have also chosen to move on from Umesh Yadav in the pace department. Instead of the veteran of 57 Tests, the selectors have named seamer Mukesh, who has been delivering consistently for Bengal. Also earning a recall is Saini, who has pace on his side. Apart from the two, the selectors have retained pacers Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur and spin-bowling all-rounders R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. The two wicketkeepers will be KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan.

India’s Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

India’s ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.