Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has made a compelling case for bold and innovative selections as India gears up for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20.
In a discussion on The ICC Review, Shastri advocated for the inclusion of young talents like Sai Sudharsan, emphasized the need for a left-arm pacer, and weighed in on Shreyas Iyer’s potential Test comeback.
Highlighting the potential of Sudharsan, Shastri was full of praise for the young batter.
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"I see this young man, Sai Sudharsan, for all formats of the game. He seems like a class player and my eyes would be on him certainly..Being a left-hander in England, knowing English conditions, and just his technique, the way he plays, I think he'll be top of the list for me from the outsiders wanting to get into this side," Shastri said as quoted on the latest episode of the ICC Review.
Sudharsan’s experience in England strengthens his case. Playing for Surrey in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024, he accumulated 281 runs in five matches, including a century and a fifty. In first-class cricket, he has amassed 1,957 runs in 29 matches at an average of 39.93.
He is currently second in the list of top scorers in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL) with 456 runs in his tally.
Ravi Shastri Puts Shreyas Iyer's Possible Test Return on Hold
Shastri also stressed the importance of including a left-arm pacer to diversify India’s bowling attack. He suggested the names of Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed, who are currently doing well in IPL 2025.
"I'll be looking for a left-armer. I'll be keeping an eye on which left-armer is in good form, and try and squeeze him in there as the sixth (bowling) option. It could be anyone. It could even be a white-ball specialist. I don't like this thing when they say someone like Arshdeep Singh is a ‘white-ball specialist,'" Shastri opined.
"I'll keep a close eye on his red-ball record as well and the number of overs he bowls. If he can bowl 15-20 overs for me, he might very well be in the mix because he's got the mindset. He's a thinking bowler and I need a left-armer. It's just that. You need a left-armer, go and find him, whoever it is and whoever is the best of the lot – pick them. There's Khaleel Ahmed, who again, his rhythm is good, he's bowling well. So it's important to get that mix."
Arshdeep’s red-ball credentials add weight to Shastri’s pitch. With 66 wickets in 21 first-class matches, he impressed during a 2024 County Championship spell with Kent, snaring 13 wickets in five outings.
Khaleel, boasting 52 wickets in 19 first-class matches, has been on the selectors’ radar. He joined the Australia tour, first with India A and later as a traveling reserve for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, though a minor injury disrupted his stint.
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Regarding Shreyas Iyer’s potential return to the Test side, Shastri was cautiously optimistic.
"He (Shreyas Iyer) can (make a comeback), but it's again going to be a competition. White-ball, certain. Test cricket, we’ve got to see who the other players are around," Shastri concluded.
Shastri’s comments come as India aims to recover from a recent series defeat to New Zealand and Australia. With several senior players facing scrutiny because of their poor returns in Test cricket lately, India is exploring options that can serve them in the long run in this format.
Also read: England Aim To Rope In Tim Southee As Pace Consultant Ahead Of India Test Series
