Arshdeep Singh ready for dream debut is Test cricket

Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer who starred in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, is on the verge of fulfilling his long-standing dream of playing Test cricket. The 25-year-old has consistently expressed his aspiration to compete in Test matches.

Following his standout performances in the T20 World Cup, Singh is now poised for his debut in the Test squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Rohit Sharma and the team are scheduled to play a five-match Test series against Australia from November to December this year, and Singh’s impressive form suggests he will receive his maiden Test call-up.

Arshdeep Singh’s first Test call-up is approaching for the upcoming tour of Australia

Indian selectors are considering adding the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to the Test squad, given his outstanding performances in limited-overs cricket. Impressed by his exceptional showing in the T20 World Cup 2024, the selectors are eager to include him in the team for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Singh ended the T20 World Cup 2024 as one of the joint-leading wicket-takers, alongside Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, with 17 wickets. Reports suggest that the national selectors have advised him to play a few matches in the upcoming Duleep Trophy to strengthen his chances of earning a Test call-up.

A source close to the situation told the Times of India: “Arshdeep has demonstrated impressive swing in white-ball cricket for India. He might be asked to participate in some domestic red-ball games, starting with the Duleep Trophy on September 5, to improve his selection prospects for the Australia tour. There’s a strong possibility that he could become India’s key player, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, in Australia.”

The source also mentioned, “The selectors are particularly interested in adding another left-arm pace option to the white-ball squad, which is why Khaleel Ahmed was included in the Zimbabwe tour and has been selected for both the ODIs and T20Is in Sri Lanka.”Currently, both Khaleel and Arshdeep are with Team India in Sri Lanka. They will participate in the upcoming three-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The tour begins with the first T20I match on July 27 in Pallekele.

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Riyan Parag and Harshit Rana are set to be developed as future stars

Riyan Parag has reportedly been included in both white-ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour due to an injury to middle-order batsman Tilak Varma. The Indian selectors aim to develop Parag, who is known for his solid all-round skills, including decent bowling, exceptional fielding, and explosive batting.

Similarly, Harshit Rana has received his maiden call-up to India’s ODI squad, thanks to his impressive ability to bowl yorkers, slower balls, and other variations in the death overs, making him a valuable asset in white-ball cricket.The selectors are focusing on grooming Rana, Parag, and Khaleel Ahmed for the future as the Indian team navigates a transition phase, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja having retired from T20I cricket.