India announced an 18-member squad for their upcoming tour to the UK, also including four standby players in the reserves list. Here’s all you need to know about the four uncapped members of the Test contingent.
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Abhimanyu Easwaran
Age: 25
First-class record: 64 matches, 4401 runs @ 43.57, 13 100s, HS: 233
A stellar domestic performer, Easwaran has been in and around the Test team for a few years now, without making the cut so far. Named Bengal captain at 23, the technically proficient Easwaran combines his classy batting style with a hunger to pile on big scores against the red ball. He averaged 95.66 in the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy, and, at 25, has 13 first-class centuries at an average of 43.57. He was also the standby India opener for the home series against England.
Prasidh Krishna
Age: 25
First-class record: 9 matches, 34 wickets @ 20.26, BBI: 5-49
The right-arm quick has just played nine first-class matches over five years, but has been impressive with his lengths and temperament with the white-ball too, and is likely to be included as a backup bowler in the large contingent. Standing at six feet two, Krishna hits the deck hard and gets appreciable bounce, and picked up four wickets in his maiden ODI against England earlier this year, following which Sunil Gavaskar urged the selection committee to “seriously consider” Prasidh for Test cricket.
Avesh Khan
Age: 24
First-class record: 26 matches, 100 wickets @ 23.01, 4 five-fors, BBI: 7-24
A product of India’s flourishing U19 setup, Avesh combines brisk pace with testing accuracy, and could be a surprise package for the national team in Test cricket. Despite the truncated season, Avesh made a lasting impression in IPL 2021, regularly troubling the best of batsmen with his compact lines and deft variations. While he might still be a work in progress, Avesh has already shown his versatility across formats with his performances for Madhya Pradesh so far, and was their leading wicket-taker in the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy.
Arzan Nagwaswalla
Age: 22
First-class record: 16 matches, 62 wickets @ 22.53, 4 five-fors, BBI: 5-50
A relatively unknown name on the list, Nagwasalla earns his maiden call-up on the back of his blazing start to first-class cricket. In the 2019/20 season, Nagwaswalla was the highest wicket-taker for Gujarat, picking up 41 wickets @ 18.36, including three five-fors. With no T Natarajan in India’s announced squad, Nagwaswalla is the lone left-arm quick in the line-up, an attribute that could heighten his chances of being a future prospect in the national side.
