Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif warned head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee via X to not repeat their mistake. Kaif argued that experienced players like Abhimanyu Easwaran should be included in the playing XI ahead of Sai Sudharsan. He likened the current situation to a previous misstep when Sarfaraz Khan was excluded despite strong performances for India A in English conditions.

“Abhimanyu Easwaran deserves to be in the playing XI before Sai Sudarshan. Easwaran’s 27 first-class hundreds, almost 8k FC runs, need to be respected. By dropping Sarfraz, someone who scored runs for India A in England, the selectors made a mistake. They shouldn’t repeat it by keeping Easwaran out of the Leeds Test,” reads Kaif’s post on X.

Supporting Kaif’s concerns, former India coach WV Raman also underlined the need to reward consistency. He pointed to a clear opening in the top order and argued that Easwaran’s domestic record makes him a logical choice for the role.

Among the top names for the prestigious batting position is Sai Sudershan, whose exceptional IPL form and breathtaking form of play have captured national attention.

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On the other hand, domestic cricket sensation Abhimanyu Easwaran stands as a strong alternative. Boasting an impressive 8,000 first-class runs accompanied by 27 centuries, Abhimanyu presents himself as an experienced candidate in the trying English swinging conditions.

As India prepares to open their five-match Test series against England at Headingley, Leeds, anticipation surrounds the formation of a new-look squad under Shubman Gill’s captaincy. With the retirement of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket, the series marks a significant change in the squad for the national side.

There’s also some excitement around the youngster Dhruv Jurel, whose recent impeccable performance captured significant attention and presented him as a safe choice for a wicketkeeper-batter.

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As the team heads into the series opener, selectors face a critical decision whether to opt for established domestic performers or lean into youth and potential. Either way, the composition of India’s batting order at Headingley will be closely watched.

Playing XIs

India Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.

England Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes