Rohit Sharma Aims to Build a Robust Fast Bowling Reserve for Indian Cricket Team
Indian cricket team's captain, Rohit Sharma, is focusing on bolstering the team's fast bowling resources by developing a deep bench of talented players. Sharma's vision is to establish a pool of eight to nine fast bowlers who are capable of stepping into the Test XI at any given time, ensuring the team's resilience against injuries and providing a wealth of options for various playing conditions.
"We are aiming to create a strong bench where we are not overly reliant on just a few individuals," Sharma stated on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. "Our goal is to have a backup plan in place, ready to step in at a moment's notice, and to also look towards the future, ensuring we have the right players in place."
India is currently monitoring the progress of Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy, both of whom have shown promise and have been included as traveling reserves for the series against New Zealand. These players, along with Harshit Rana, are being considered for future tours, including the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
"The reason we are keeping them close is that we see potential in them and are thinking of taking them to Australia," Sharma explained. "We want to monitor their workload and development, as we believe they have the talent to contribute to the team, especially in Test cricket where the demands are different from white-ball formats."
Mayank Yadav, in particular, has caught the attention of the selectors with his impressive speeds and accuracy during the IPL 2024, despite being sidelined by injuries. Sharma emphasized the need for caution with Yadav's progression, given his history of injuries, and the importance of gradually building his workload in red-ball cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah, the leader of India's fast-bowling attack, has been named vice-captain for the series against New Zealand and may potentially take on the captaincy role in the early Tests against Australia next month, depending on Sharma's availability.
"Bumrah has always been part of our leadership group," Sharma said. "He understands the game well and has a good head on his shoulders. Although he hasn't captained much, his insights and leadership will be invaluable to the team."
The final XI for the opening Test against New Zealand will be determined based on the pitch conditions on the day of the match, with Sharma indicating that India is keeping their options open for playing three seamers and three spinners.