Three Indian players likely to make it to the Test squad soon

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  • Three cricketers knocking on the doors of the Test team

    The Indian Test team embarks on its journey to the Caribbean on Monday, where it’ll take part in a four-match Test series.

    While the squad looks balanced with each player having his defined role, there remains opportunities for consistent domestic performers ahead of India’s long home season in 2016-17.

    Virat Kohli and boys are scheduled to play a total of 17 Tests over the next 365 days and it is a good time to take a look at three players who, with the help of their performances and good form at the right time, can make a breakthrough in the game’s longest format.

    KARUN NAIR

    When will Karun Nair get his next Test call-up? / (C) Getty

    Nair is the closest to an Indian Test cap.

    Yet to be capped in Test cricket, Karun Nair was drafted into the Indian side last year in Sri Lanka when Murali Vijay was ruled out due to injury. The call-up came off the back of some consistent performances for Karnataka and India A, and some noticeable knocks in Rajasthan Royals colours.

    In the 2015-16 edition of the Ranji Trophy, Nair scored 500 runs from 11 innings which included two centuries. The year before, in the midst of a lean patch, the Karnataka batsman displayed his penchant for scoring on big occasions when he notched up a record 328 runs in the Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu.

    The fact that the triple century came when his team was reeling at 84/5 earmarked Nair as a bright Indian prospect. Earlier this year, he also made his limited overs debut for India during the tour to Zimbabwe, and is best suited to replace the inconsistent Rohit Sharma in five-day international cricket.

    MANISH PANDEY

    Can Manish Pandey use his limited overs exploits to get a Test call-up?

    Can Manish Pandey use his limited overs exploits to earn a Test call-up?

    Nair’s state mate and a recent centurion for India in one-day cricket, Manish Pandey is yet another contender for a middle-order berth.

    Even though Pandey hasn’t scored big in first-class cricket recently, he continues to be one of the Indian selectors’ go-to men.

    His exploits in limited overs international cricket that include a stunning ODI century against Australia in January this year, have made sure that he’s at the top of the list as far as Test call-ups are concerned.

    The only challenge that Pandey faces right now is to convince the team management that he deserves a shot ahead of Nair, especially since there can be only one opening in the line-up. Pandey’s best chance lies in notching up some big scores during India A’s tour to Australia in August.

    SHAHBAZ NADEEM

    Nadeem (R) will look to impress Test captain Virat Kohli during the NCA camp

    Nadeem (R) will look to impress captain Virat Kohli during the NCA camp.

    Kohli’s fascination for outright results in Test matches ensures that attacking Indian spin bowlers will never run out of demand and Shahbaz Nadeem seems to be at the forefront of it all.

    Even though Nadeem is likely to be fourth in the pecking order after Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Amit Mishra, a slew of good performances in domestic cricket and A-tours might just force the management to give him a look in.

    The cricketer from Jharkhand has done himself no harm by finishing the last Ranji season as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 51 scalps.

    He is currently part of the national camp in Bangalore and he will also head to Australia to represent India A in the upcoming quadrangular series and unofficial Tests.

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