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Former India cricketer and renowned commentator Ravi Shastri has urged the selectors to make surprise inclusions in the India squad for the five-match Test series against England, set to commence in June this year.
England will host India for a five-match Test series, marking the beginning of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship from 2025 to 2027, with the first Test scheduled at Headingley on June 20.
This will be Team India’s first Test series after the 3-1 defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While speaking in the latest episode of the ICC review, Ravi Shastri called on the selectors to include young batter Sai Sudharsan, hailing him as an all-format player for India in the future.
“I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game,” Ravi Shastri said. “He seems like a class player, and my eyes would be on him certainly.”
The left-handed batter is yet to make his debut in Tests for India and has played for Surrey in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024.
Ravi Shastri emphasized his experience playing in England, noting that he will be at the top of the list for inclusion.
“Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions, and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he’ll be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side,” added Shastri.
Shastri also supported the inclusion of a left-arm seamer in the squad, keeping in mind the seam-friendly conditions.
“I’ll be looking for a left-armer. I’ll be keeping an eye on which left-armer is in good form, and try and squeeze him in there as the sixth (bowling) option.
“It could be anyone. It could even be a white-ball specialist. I don’t like this thing when they say someone like Arshdeep Singh is a ‘white-ball specialist’,” Ravi said.
Ravi Shastri also stressed keeping an eye on his red-ball record, praising his strategic thinking.
“I’ll keep a close eye on his red-ball record as well and the number of overs he bowls. If he can bowl 15-20 overs for me, he might very well be in the mix because he’s got the mindset. He’s a thinking bowler and I need a left-armer. It’s just that,” he concluded.
