The BCCI has named Avesh Khan as the replacement for Mohammed Shami in the upcoming second and final Test of the series against South Africa.
Avesh Khan, who is yet to make his Test debut, displayed his potential by grabbing a five-wicket haul in the second unofficial Test against South Africa A. Following the encounter, the pacer is slated to join the Indian squad to commence his preparations.
The Indian pacers’ performance in the Boxing Day Test was disappointing, according to skipper Rohit Sharma. While appreciating Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit believed that the other pacers failed to offer appropriate support. Avesh’s inclusion followed Rohit’s reservations and the strong showing by the young pacer for India A. Rohit acknowledged Prasidh Krishna’s need for additional experience and expects him to bounce back in the future.
The choice to choose Avesh definitely signals that he may make his Test debut soon, especially after the Indian pace battery underperformed in the opening Test. Avesh has a record of 149 wickets in 38 First-class matches with an economy of 3.12. Although he wasn’t in the early plans, the team management has demonstrated faith in his potential to play well in the demanding circumstances of South Africa, known for its lateral mobility.
Meanwhile, Jaydev Unadkat, who had a limited part in the West Indies Test series, has been discarded without adequate opportunity. Mohammed Shami is currently healing but is likely to return for the five-match series against England starting on January 25 in Hyderabad.
In the impending second Test against South Africa, both India’s batting and bowling units require improvement to clinch a victory. The squad was dismissed twice in 101.5 overs, and Rohit remarked that the ground wasn’t difficult enough for the bowlers to give over 400 runs. There’s tremendous space for improvement before the second Test, slated to begin on January 3 in Cape Town.
