IND vs BAN, 1st Test: KL Rahul Or Sarfaraz Khan? Final Decision Made, One Bowling Spot Still Open
The inclusion of KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan in India’s squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, starting September 19 in Chennai, was anticipated but has ignited considerable debate over who should secure a spot in the playing XI. Sarfaraz, who featured in India’s recent Test series against England, impressed with his bold and assertive performances, including twin half-centuries in Rajkot and another fifty in Dharamsala. His adaptability against both pace and spin earned him considerable praise.
KL Rahul Likely To Play IND Vs BAN, 1st Test
Now, with Rahul returning after an injury kept him out of the England series, the decision comes down to choosing between the two for the opening match. Sarfaraz’s fearless style has garnered him many supporters as a potential asset for India’s middle order. However, KL Rahul’s experience may give him an advantage. With 50 Test matches and a decade of national experience, Rahul’s seasoned presence is seen as crucial, especially with the upcoming tour of Australia on the horizon.
"For people on the outside, they don't understand how a team works and what are the systems in place. In his last three Test matches, KL scored a century in South Africa, one of the best Test knocks in recent times, and 86 at Hyderabad in the last Test he played before injury. He was not dropped but got injured. So, he is fit and available, scored a fifty in Duleep, got match time, and he will start," a BCCI source told PTI.
KL Rahul More Experienced Than Sarfaraz Khan
The phenomenal record of KL Rahul, not to mention significant hundreds at Sydney, Lord's, and Centurion, will have a strong advantage in the selection debate. This is because Rahul has been an integral part of the Indian Test team over recent years. Sarfaraz Khan, on his part, has done no wrong to fall behind in the pecking order, but Rahul's immense experience coupled with success rates does make him difficult to overlook. With the team management, too, factoring in the challenges ahead, especially the tour to Australia later this year, past tours and performances of Rahul Down Under carry a lot of weight.
The selection committee is likely to go with Rishabh Pant ahead of Dhruv Jurel on continuity principle. Though the latter has shown enough promise in this series against England, Pant's superb record in Test cricket makes him India's first choice wicketkeeper-batsman.
Also Read: Muttiah Muralitharan Claims No One Will Surpass His Test Wickets Record: Here’s Why
KL Rahul has played 50 Tests till now and accumulated 20863 runs with an average of 34.08.
IND Vs BAN, 1st Test Squad
Team India Squad- Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
