Key takeaways from India's Test squad for Border-Gavaskar series

Sarfaraz has scored truckloads of runs in domestic arena [Source: Twitter]

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian squad for the upcoming Test series against Australia, starting from February 9.

It was widely expected that the core will remain the same, but we won't see any notable inclusions in the squad. However, to everyone's surprise, we actually witnessed a couple of surprising inclusions which has opened up a lot of questions for the BCCI to answer.

No Sarfaraz Khan in the squad

When Roger Binny was made the BCCI President, he made it clear that selection for the Indian team will be made on the merit basis, and domestic cricket will be given the priority when it comes to the selection debacle. 

However, this was not the case when the name of Sarfaraz Khan popped up on the selection table. For someone who is averaging 80 in first-class cricket and not getting an opportunity to represent India is an insult to his talent.

In the 2021-22 Ranji season, the Mumbai middle-order batter amassed 982 runs, at an astonishing average of 122.75, with four centuries to his name. Yet, he is not in the Indian Test squad. 

But what baffles everyone is the selection of Suryakumar Yadav in the whites. Surely SKY has reached a place in T20Is, where he is literally untouchable and is arguably the best T20 batter going around at present. But you surely can't include him in Sarfaraz's place, especially what the latter has done in the domestic circuit in the past few seasons.

One argument can be made that SKY brings an X factor in the Indian Test side, especially with Pant missing out due to an unfortunate injury. But no one can ignore the fact that Sarfaraz strikes at 69.89 in first-class cricket, which is a good to go number if you want someone to bat aggressively. 

Another interesting point to note is that the Indian team management is not even trusting SKY for number 5 in ODIs, but suddenly finds a place in the Test team.

Is it time for Ishan to shine?

Pant's injury could turn out to be the blessing in disguise for Ishan Kishan. Pant in white ball cricket is irreplaceable. But with the unfortunate injury to the southpaw, the doors to the Indian team have opened for the dynamic Ishan. 

He can be the like-to-like replacement for Pant and can bat aggressively, just like the Delhi batter. But will he get the nod in the opening Test? Where there better choices for wicket-keeper selection?

Akshay Wadkar, the prolific keeper-batter for Vidarbha has been going under the radar. The 28-year-old has so far accumulated 2398 runs, in 38 matches, at an average of 55.8. Surely these are amazing numbers for a keeper-batter.

On the other hand, Ishan has slammed 2985 runs in 48 matches, at an average of 38.76.

No one knows what the Indian think-tank is thinking, but don't be surprised if Ishan's name is on the team sheet for the first Test on Feb 9.

What happens to Gill?

With Rohit Sharma back in the Test squad after an injury layoff, the big question arises - what happens to Gill now? KL Rahul is the vice-captain of the Indian Test side and you surely can't leave your deputy out of the playing XI.

The middle order is relatively sorted, so where will Gill be accommodated? He scored a sublime century against Bangladesh in the recently concluded Test series, and you can't leave your centurion out of the playing XI.

Lots of questions in everyone's mind, but very few answers to take away.

Also Read: India announce squads for New Zealand series and first Two Tests against Australia