The Test is the ultimate format in the game of cricket as it tests the technique as well as the temperament of batsmen to the core. Ordinary souls would find it tough to survive in a five-day affair with bowlers constantly breathing down their necks in short but deadly spells. So, you need batsmen who remain unaffected in the face of relentless attacks from bowlers’ arsenal. With India starting afresh post the T-20 debacle there are some crucial Tests abroad and at home going forward. Consequently, the team management should look to nurture some long-term prospects in Test cricket capable of efficiently manning diverse positions in the batting lineup. Hence, these young guns warrant long ropes to prove their mettle. Don’t you want to know who these budding talents are? Kindly familiarize yourself with each one of them underneath.
Shreyas Iyer
Credited with an impressive domestic record while playing for Mumbai, the 26-year-old player of south Indian descent has been knocking on the doors of the Indian team for a while. When he got the maiden opportunity to play in the long format he made the occasion unforgettable by becoming the 16th Indian player to score a ton on Test Debut. Iyer is a versatile player who can shift gears with ease, he can score quickly and even build a solid platform for others to exploit. Hence, India should eye Iyer as a permanent member in the Test squad for the future.
Suryakumar Yadav
Another Mumbai player with sterling performances in first-class games is this Mumbai Indians’ explosive and unorthodox batsman. Nicknamed as SKY for his ability to execute gravity-defying shots with ease, he is India’s answer to South Africa’s 360-degree sensation AB de Villiers. Yet to feature in Test format, Surya has already provided fleeting glimpses of his humongous potential during his brief stints in T-20 and ODI matches. As an all-weather player, the Mumbai batter comes across as the right candidate to reinforce the struggling middle order in Test cricket, especially overseas.
Shubhman Gill
As the regular opening partner to Rohit Sharma in Test cricket, the Punjab batsman has already impressed everyone with a robust batting technique and an ability to accelerate when the situation demands. However, his talents could be better leveraged in the middle order, which lacks firepower most of the time. After impressing everyone in the 2020-21 tour of Australia, he had to endure an ordinary outing against England at home earlier this year. However, it won’t be fair to assess anyone’s capability after a few failures. With a solid backing and right placement in the batting order, Gill can be a world-class middle-order batter going forward.
Axar Patel
There are not many genuine multi-tasking players in the Indian Test team apart from Ravindra Jadeja. The inadequacy of all-rounders has haunted the India team several times in the past and this is where Axar comes into the equation. Apart from being a very good off-spinner, Axar can also use the long handle to good effect as a lower-down batsman. Players like him are a necessity in overseas conditions, where 5 specialist bowlers are a must to win matches. With four five-wicket hauls in three Test matches, the Gujarat player can be a valuable addition in the long format.
Washington Sundar
Let there be no misconception. This Tamil Nadu cricketer has literally no connection with the US capital city. Sundar got his first name from an American, who financially helped his father during the hard times his family went through. He happens to be a special talent as he is at home with both bat and the ball. With a batting average of 66.25 in 4 Test matches and an ability to test any batsmen with deceptive off-breaks, Sundar should be groomed as a specialist not only in Test format but in short and shortest as well.
