AUS vs IND 1st Test 2024 – The likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yashasvi Jaiswal look all but poised to dominate the headlines in the opening Test of the five-match BGT Test series in Perth. While most of the attention would be centered around these heavyweights, it can be said that some of the lesser-known players can also get a call-up ahead of the first Test. Here is a snapshot of four of them who are likely to take part in the first Test in Perth.
Devdutt Padikkal
The 24-year-old Devdutt Padikkal is a tall elegant left-handed batter who represents Karnataka in Indian domestic cricket. A thumb injury to Shubman Gill has opened the doors for this youngster. His name was missing when was originally not a part of the squad when it was announced just before the end of the third test against New Zealand.
He made his Test debut against England in Dharamsala in March, where he scored 65 runs batting at No. 4 during India’s sole innings. Although he has not yet participated in another Test match, he possesses significant domestic experience. He has competed in 40 first-class matches, accumulating a total of 2,677 runs with an average of 42.49.
In September, Padikkal achieved three half-centuries across three Duleep Trophy matches, with a top score of 92. Nevertheless, in the remaining three innings, he was out for single-digit totals. More recently, he emerged as the leading run-scorer for India A in their series against Australia A, accumulating 151 runs over four innings, with a notable performance of 88 runs in the second innings in Mackay. Padikkal is likely to bat at number 3 in AUS vs IND 1st test at Perth.
Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps to join the army but subsequently fell in love with cricket. Jurel garnered attention by smashing a heroic 249 for UP against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23. However, his exploits with the bat in the 2023 IPL season made him stand out exponentially.
He was fortunate enough to feature in the second Test of the five-match series against England this year where he scored a well-compiled 90 in the first innings and 39* in the second innings in fighting conditions. His role in the second innings was crucial as he made a vital contribution with the bat on a deteriorating Ranchi pitch thus helping India get over the line in a tense run chase. In all, he has played 21 first-class games and scored 1223 runs at an average of 48.92.
In his solitary appearance in the Duleep Trophy, Jurel recorded scores of 2 and 0; however, he demonstrated remarkable skill as a wicketkeeper, successfully taking eight catches over the course of two innings. Subsequently, he achieved a score of 93 against Mumbai in the Irani Cup. Nevertheless, it was his outstanding performance against Australia A that significantly enhanced his prospects. He was the standout batsman from both teams, scoring 80 and 68 in the second unofficial Test held in Melbourne.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
At age 21, Nitish Reddy is the youngest member of the Indian squad in this BGT tour. The promising all-rounder hails from Andhra Pradesh and made his first-class debut for his side in 2019. With 23 FC games under his belt, Nitish has registered 779 runs at an average of 21.05 and 56 wickets at 26.98.
He is in the side since he has shown an extraordinary degree of promise in the shortest format. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, he scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92 and took three wickets. His successful IPL stint led to the eventual maiden call-up for India in October. Featuring only his second T20I, he smashed 74 off 34 balls and took 2 for 23 with the ball.
The indicators have not been favorable. In three out of four innings against Australia A, he was dismissed by bouncers on three occasions. With the ball, he managed to secure only one wicket over the course of 31 overs. But he has the backing of his management and on such pacey tracks, Nitish’s seam-bowling all-rounder attributes can come more than handy. Indian fast bowling coach Morne Morkel hinted that the youngster could be used as a fourth seamer option should the situation call for it.
Harshit Rana
Uncapped Rana, set to celebrate his 23rd birthday next month, is yet another seam-bowling allrounder representing the Indian team. While Reddy excels in batting, Rana’s primary strength lies in his bowling capabilities. He possesses the ability to bowl at high speeds, deliver effective bouncers, and utilize pace variations.
His potential was recognized by his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, prior to his domestic team, Delhi. In the IPL 2024 season, he ranked as the joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker and significantly contributed to KKR’s championship victory. In ten first-class games, he has 43 wickets at 24.00 and 469 runs at 42.63.
He achieved two four-wicket hauls in consecutive matches during the Duleep Trophy and subsequently recorded a fifty along with a five-wicket haul against Assam in the Ranji Trophy. However, he was not included in the unofficial red-ball series against Australia A.
