Meet the Five New Faces in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy Touring Party

India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia features a mix of youth and experience, with a relatively inexperienced bowling attack and some fresh faces. With Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav absent, and a likely debutant opener, here’s a look at five players who earned their spots ahead of established names.

Abhimanyu Easwaran

The 29-year-old opener from Bengal has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, amassing over 7,600 first-class runs at an average of nearly 50. Known for his old-school batting style, Abhimanyu is already in Australia with the India A team. His recent form, including centuries in four consecutive first-class games, helped him secure a place in the squad. With the absence of Rohit Sharma, Abhimanyu may get an opportunity to open the innings early in the series, potentially in Perth or Adelaide.

Washington Sundar

Returning to the Test circuit after more than three years, Washington Sundar made a strong case for his inclusion with impressive performances in the Ranji Trophy. His off-spin fetched seven wickets in Pune, where six dismissals were bowled or lbw, and his batting has been valuable in past tours, including a memorable 62 at the Gabba. His ability to extract bounce on Australian pitches could make him a valuable asset if India needs an off-spin bowling all-rounder.

Nitish Kumar Reddy

The 21-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder rose to prominence with his performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 and a notable knock in the T20I series against Bangladesh. Despite a modest record in the Duleep Trophy, Reddy has shown the ability to swing the ball and was Andhra’s top wicket-taker in the last Ranji Trophy season. His inclusion over the experienced Shardul Thakur highlights the selectors’ faith in his potential.

Prasidh Krishna

Returning from injury, Prasidh Krishna has been included for his height and ability to generate extra bounce. Although his recent form in domestic cricket has been inconsistent, he possesses the pace and accuracy that could prove effective on Australian tracks. The upcoming ‘A’ series will be crucial for him to regain form and confidence ahead of the Tests.

Harshit Rana

The least experienced of the newcomers, 22-year-old Harshit Rana is a promising fast bowler who has already made a mark in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite having only nine first-class matches under his belt, his performance in the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy has shown his potential with both bat and ball. His inclusion over more experienced bowlers underscores his promise.