The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a highly anticipated five-match Test series. The 18-member team features three uncapped players: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Abhimanyu Easwaran. This selection showcases a blend of veteran experience alongside youthful exuberance, as both Reddy and Rana have made significant impacts in white-ball cricket, particularly in the T20 format.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to join the team as India's sole medium-pace bowling all-rounder. The 21-year-old from Andhra Pradesh has been in impressive form, highlighted by a whirlwind innings of 74 runs off just 34 balls during the IPL 2024 season, where he scored a total of 303 runs at an impressive strike rate of 142.92, along with three wickets. His remarkable performance led to his T20I debut against Bangladesh, where he was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution.
Harshit Rana, a fast bowler from Delhi, represents a growing trend of players making their IPL debuts before stepping into senior domestic cricket. Known for his height, pace, and clever variations, Rana had a standout season with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2024 IPL, where he took 19 wickets and finished as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker for his team. His strong performances in the Duleep Trophy also caught selectors' attention, leading to this Test call-up.
India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar series includes Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar.
This series presents a remarkable opportunity for both Reddy and Rana to showcase their talents on a significant stage, sharing the dressing room with seasoned stars while contributing to a prestigious contest against Australia. The mix of experienced players and young talent positions India well for a competitive outing in this crucial series.
