Nair and Jurel build compelling cases, Shardul struggles for India A

Two drawn four-day games between England Lions and India A in the leadup to this summer’s five-Test series between England and India – rechristened the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy this week – have left the visiting team’s management with some insight into how their XI for the series opener on June 20 might look like, but also with a couple dilemmas.

From India’s Test squad, seven members turned out in these two unofficial Test matches at Canterbury and Northampton: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy and Shardul Thakur featured in both and KL Rahul in the second. 

The fact that Rahul opened in both innings at Northampton and scored 116 and 51 indicates strongly that India intend to open with him for the Test series. Rahul is the most senior batsman in the current squad after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and averages 37 as an opener in England. This leaves India A captain Easwaran looking at more time on the bench, even though he managed two fifties (68 and 80) out of four innings against England Lions. 

Rahul’s opening partner, Jaiswal, had scores of 24, 64, 17 and 5 and it does seem likely that his place for the first Test is in jeopardy. Jaiswal averages almost 53 in Test cricket and while his introduction to English conditions has been a tough one so far, the pedigree is such that India will expect plenty from the 23-year-old.

Nair’s case is compelling. Recalled to the Test squad after eight years following success in domestic cricket and for Northamptonshire in the County Championship, the second triple-centurion in India’s history made all the right noises in the first game against England Lions with 204 from 281 deliveries. Nair had a more subdued outing in the second game, managing 40 and 15. 

Based on his success in England in county cricket, and now a double century for India A, there is reason to see Nair slot back for his first Test since 2017. If indications are to be believed, India plan to hand a debut to B Sai Sudarshan at one-down, which would mean the new captain Shubman Gill shifts to No 4. If Jaiswal, Rahul, Sudarshan and Gill are the top four, with Rishabh Pant at No 6 followed by two allrounders, there is only one spot left. Nair, staving off competition from Dhruv Jurel, looks the frontrunner to bat at No 5.

Jurel’s previous Test was in Australia where he played as a specialist batsman given Pant kept wickets, and based on his time in England he too can claim for a spot in the middle order. In four innings for India A, Jurel reeled off scores of 94, 53*, 52 and 28 to further enhance his reputation as a dependable option. 

Regarding the allrounder roles, the 33-year-old Shardul is back in India’s plans in a country in which he has tasted success. Shardul averages 24.71 with the bat in England, having scored three fifties in seven innings, to go with 10 wickets. However, he struggled for fluency against England Lions. 

Shardul bowled 43 overs for just two wickets and scored 80 runs in three innings. The other seam-bowling allrounder in the squad, Reddy, also took two wickets but from 26.5 overs and scored 135 runs in four innings, with a best of 52 not out. 

Given that India will play Ravindra Jadeja, only one allrounder’s spot remains. Shardul has experience on his side, and it could come down to the intra-squad game at Beckenham this week to decide who gets the nod.