The Indian cricket team is to play a two-match Test series at home against Bangladesh from September 19. The BCCI has announced the squad for the first Test, but choosing the playing 11 is going to be a big headache for head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma. Because there will be competition among the players for some positions. In the middle order, Sarfaraz Khan will compete with KL Rahul for the number-5 spot, while the team has two wicketkeeping options in Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant.

Meanwhile, former Indian player and BCCI chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes that the team management will put KL Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz Khan because he is a big player. That’s why the former legend feels bad for the young batsman Sarfaraz Khan.

If a big player returns, you will have to lose your place- Chris Srikanth

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth said,

Honestly, I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan. But this happens many times in Test cricket. You may be playing well but when a big player returns, you will have to lose your place, for example Rishabh Pant is returning due to which Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan are losing their place because KL Rahul is coming.

Kris Srikkanth feels that KL Rahul will be preferred over Sarfaraz due to his overseas record. Sarfaraz Khan has played only one Test series so far, that too at home against England earlier this year.

In the back of the mind, they are also keeping the Australia series. New Zealand is also coming. KL Rahul has done well overseas, he has done well in Australia.

BCCI has not released Sarfaraz from the Duleep Trophy squad

BCCI has made changes in the teams for the second round of Duleep Trophy. The players who have been selected in the team for the first Test against Bangladesh have been released from the Duleep Trophy. However, Sarfaraz Khan and Yash Dayal have been retained for the second round of Duleep Trophy.

The reason behind not releasing Sarfaraz Khan is believed to be that he may not get a chance in the playing 11 of the Test against Bangladesh. The second round of Duleep Trophy 2024 will be played in Anantapur from September 12. At the same time, the first Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played in Chepauk from September 19.

Team India’s squad for the first Test against Bangladesh-

Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal