Famous Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle has picked up his Test XI of the year 2024. The squad sees three Indians but not the star batters. 

Cricbuzz released a video on Christmas Day 2024, where the popular Indian commentator revealed his best XI in Test cricket this calendar year. Before starting it, he reminded us of only two Test draws in the calendar year, along with batters scoring faster runs and bowlers taking faster wickets. Also, he didn’t forget to remind the record of Test successes for the visitors.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ben Duckett are the openers for Harsha Bhogle

Yashasvi Jaiswal was Bhogle’s first pick, who is the second most run-scorer in Test 2024 with 1312 Test runs with an average of 52.48, including three centuries and seven half-centuries. 

English Test opener Ben Duckett was Bhogle’s second opener in the list. With a record of two centuries and six half-centuries, Duckett is the third most run-scorer in Test cricket this calendar year, with 1149 runs. Bhogle especially mentioned his Test centuries at Rajkot and Multan. 

4-6 were easy after the tricky no.3

Calling the tricky one in no.3, Bhogle picked up New Zealand legend Kane Williamson, who scored 1013 Test runs in nine matches with an average of 59.58, including four centuries and four half-centuries. 

Bhogle felt an easy pick for the next three numbers as he named the English stars Joe Root and Harry Brook before naming the Sri Lankan Kamindu Mendis. Root is the leading run-scorer in Test cricket in this calendar year with 1556 Test runs with an average of 55.57, including six centuries and five half-centuries. 

Brook recorded a triple-century during the Multan Test as he scored 1100 Test runs with an average of 55, including hitting four centuries and three half-centuries. 

Kamindu Mendis has scored 1049 runs in nine Tests with an average of 74.92, including five centuries and three half-centuries. Although Bhogle also took the name of the Australian cricketer Travis Head, who is dominating in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has been missed out on due to his poor performances against other teams.

Wicketkeeper

Pakistan keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was Bhogle’s wicketkeeper choice as well as for the number seven batting position. 

Pacers

Before taking the tough no.8 position, Bhogle took the names of the last three bowlers, all as the pacers. He named English Gus Atkinson, South African Kagiso Rabada, and Indian star Jasprit Bumrah in the last three names by looking at their fantastic bowling performances throughout the year. However, Bhogle also took the names of the New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, the Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, and the West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seals. 

While Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024 with 62 wickets, Atkinson is just next to him with 52 Test wickets. Rabada has taken 32 Test wickets this year. 

An Indian in the no.8 choice

Talking about the remaining no.8 one, Bhogle chose a spinner. While there is a lack of battle in the wrist spin and off-spin, he went to the left-arm spin. After taking the names of South African Keshav Maharaj and Sri Lankan Prabath Jayasuriya, Bhogle ultimately took the name of Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja.

Captain

Bhogle finished it by choosing his captain, and he is the Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Under his captaincy, India played the ongoing five-match Test series opener against the hosts Australia at Perth, where the visitors won by 295 runs to take the series lead by 1-0. 

Harsha Bhogle's Test XI of the Year

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Gus Atkinson, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah (C)