IND vs BAN: Srikkanth bats for Rahul and Pant, feels bad for Sarfaraz ahead of first Test

Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are likely to play in first Test against Bangladesh

Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma face the task of selecting the playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh from a squad of 16 players. While the selection committee has done its job by choosing the 16 best available options for the opening Test in Chennai, the captain and coach will have the challenging—but enviable—task of finalising the XI.

There are certain players who are virtually guaranteed a spot in the XI, but there are also positions where there will be competition for places. In the middle order, Sarfaraz Khan will vie with KL Rahul for the number 5 position, while Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are the contenders for the wicketkeeping role.

Former BCCI chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes that Rahul should be preferred over Sarfaraz due to his higher profile and experience. He also thinks Pant will be chosen over Jurel as wicketkeeper.

"Honestly, I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan. But, this happens at times in Test cricket. You might be performing well, but when a big player returns, you might lose your place. For instance, Rishabh Pant's return is causing Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan to miss out. KL Rahul is coming in," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Srikkanth also feels that Rahul’s record overseas will give him an edge over Sarfaraz, who has played only one series, and that too at home against England earlier this year.

"In the back of their minds, they are also considering the Australia series and the upcoming series against New Zealand. KL Rahul has performed well overseas, particularly in Australia," Srikkanth added.

Rahul, who has played 50 Tests for India, has been an integral part of India’s red-ball setup in recent years. The team management will likely aim to provide him with ample opportunities ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

On the other hand, Rishabh Pant is set to make his Test comeback following a serious car accident in December 2022, which left him with significant knee and back injuries and sidelined him for 15 months.

The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has impressed since his return to elite cricket last year and has maintained his form across formats, including during the team’s T20 World Cup triumph in June.