According to Indian Cricket Board, Ravindra Jadeja is unlikely to recover from his injury before the Bangladesh Test series starting on December 14 in Chittagong. While India have three options in the spin department – off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, left-arm spinner Axar Patel, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, here is the question mark if a fourth specialist spinner is needed or not. If they seek for a like-to-like replacement, then it will be Saurabh Kumar, the India A bowler.
But there are speculations made that the new selection committee or the India team management can bring in Suryakumar Yadav in place of the veteran all-rounder due to his red-hot form in the limited overs format. India is all set to play two Tests and three One Day Internationals in Bangladesh and a full-strength team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
Men in Blue will play two Tests – December 14-18 in Chittagong and December 22-26 in Mirpur after a short three-match ODI series in the first week of next month. Jadeja went through knee surgery just after the Asia Cup which took place in the United Arab Emirates. He was then ruled out for an indefinite period.
So would it be Saurabh Kumar to receive Test cap?
“Jadeja has been to NCA for his check-up and rehab on a number of occasion. However, as of now, it is unlikely that he will be fit for the Bangladesh series. In any case, Chetan Sharma-led former selection committee had kept him in the squad subject to fitness,” a source privy to developments told on conditions of anonymity.
There is still time left to announce his replacements. Saurabh has been a part of the Test squad during the series against Sri Lanka earlier this year. He also grabbed a five-for against New Zealand A in an ‘A’ Test series in Bengaluru. But the second option could be an adventurous one as Ashwin, Kuldeep, and Axar’s presence makes it difficult to select the fourth spinner.
