The Indian team is contemplating handing a Test debut to wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for the third Test against England in Trent Bridge.
If he gets selected, it will be one of the more bold decisions made by the Indian team in recent years. India are 2-0 down in the Test series with all batsmen, apart captain Virat Kohli, looking at sea against the moving ball.
Pant, 20, has played just four T20 Internationals and 23 first-class matches. Fielding him in England with the series on the line will be a brave move.
Here we look at five instances when Indian selectors and management blooded in a youngster in the Test team.
SACHIN TENDULKAR v PAKISTAN 1989
One of the boldest decisions taken in contemporary cricket. A 16-year-old Sachin was handed his Test cap in, off all places, Pakistan. One of the most talented teenagers ever seen, it was still a monumental challenge in Karachi against a Pakistan side that had Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Abdul Qadir and a debutant in Waqar Younis.
He made a fifty in the second Test, proved his technique and temperament and went on to become one of the greatest cricketers of all time with 100 international centuries.
PARTHIV PATEL v ENGLAND 2002
Baby-faced Parthiv drew compassionate looks rather than fearful glances when he made his debut in England. Patel, 17, was not the best keeper in the country but was known to be a fearless batsmen. His courage was called upon in his first Test itself as he had to bat out 60 balls in the second innings on the final day with the team eight wickets down in Nottingham to earn a draw.
However, indifferent wicketkeeping forced India to look elsewhere. And they soon found an all-time great in MS Dhoni.
ISHANT SHARMA v AUSTRALIA 2008
The Delhi pacer, then 18, had already played two Tests with decent returns, so was on the selectors’ radar. During the tour Down Under in 2007-08, Ishant was drafted in the side after Zaheer Khan’s injury for the second Test in Sydney – better known for the ‘Monkeygate’ scandal – and made an impact. He didn’t pick up a wicket but troubled all batsmen with his late seam and steep bounce.
His spell in the Perth against Ricky Ponting raised his profile immeasurably and Ishant went on to become one of the longest-serving fast bowlers in Indian cricket with 245 scalps from 84 Tests.
KULDEEP YADAV v AUSTRALIA 2017
With the series tied 1-1, India entered the final Test of the Border Gavaskar series in Dharamsala without captain Virat Kohli, who missed the match due to injury. Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane took the decision to go in one batsman short and picked left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. That proved to be the match and series-winning decision as Kuldeep picked four first innings wickets.
Now, the 23-year-old has become one of the best white-ball spinners in the world.
JASPRIT BUMRAH v SOUTH AFRICA 2018
This one came out of the blue. Bumrah had become the top bowler for India in white-ball cricket but was seen as a limited overs specialist. However, his sustained pace and accuracy led to a selection for the South Africa tour earlier in the year. There he bowled with such venom in the nets that the management had to pick him for the three Test series.
Bumrah produced some of the most hostile spells of fast bowling by an Indian pacer and was instrumental in keeping the team in with a chance every match. He finished with 14 wickets from three Tests.
