IND vs BAN 2022-23: Rohit Sharma is likely to be ruled out of the ongoing Bangladesh tour with a finger injury he suffered during the second ODI loss on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Easwaran is expected to replace him for Tests.
India A skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran will likely be called in as injured captain Rohit Sharma's replacement for the upcoming two-Test series versus Bangladesh, starting at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on December 14. Skipper Rohit, who courageously pushed to save the One-Day International (ODI) series despite a left thumb dislocation, will likely be out of the Test series. "Abhimanyu Easwaran has scored back-to-back hundreds in the ongoing A Test series and is an opener. In all likelihood, he will join the squad in Chattogram after finishing his second A Test in Sylhet," a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source briefed PTI.
Easwaran scored 141 in the opening A Test and was unbeaten on 144 at the stumps on day two of the second Test. While Easwaran might arrive as Rohit's cover, it will be stand-in skipper KL Rahul and young Shubman Gill opening the innings for India in Chittagong and Dhaka.
Fellow Bengal seamer Mukesh Kumar, who has been faring consistently for India A, or Umran Malik, would likely replace injured seamer Mohammed Shami. India's bowling could present a harshly devoured look as orthodox spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who hasn't played a contest since experiencing knee surgery, will be playing Tests immediately.
While all-rounder Axar Patel is already within the squad, rookie all-rounder Saurabh Kumar could also be called in from the A side as a backup left-arm spinner unless some extraordinary thinking brings Suryakumar Yadav into the mix. Surya has already affirmed that he will play in the second Ranji Trophy tie for Mumbai this season.
(With inputs from PTI)