Published By: Sanchari Das

BGT 2024-25: New Blood in India’s Line-Up Poised for a Test Debut Down Under

As they prepare to face a formidable Australian side, the players represent both India’s cricketing future and its current depth of talent

The BCCI recently unveiled India’s squad for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia, highlighting a mix of familiar faces and fresh talents. With Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain and seasoned players like Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav missing out due to injuries, the team brings a relatively inexperienced bowling unit into play. This shift also opens doors for new names to shine on the world stage. Among these promising players are debutants and rising stars, each bringing their unique strengths to bolster India’s campaign Down Under. Here’s a closer look at the squad’s lesser-known additions poised to make a mark.

Abhimanyu Easwaran

The 29-year-old Abhimanyu Easwaran, an opener from Bengal, has been on the radar for India’s Test squads recently, thanks to his consistent domestic performances. With over a decade of experience, Easwaran has amassed 7,600 first-class runs at an average close to 50. His recent form stands out—he scored a century in each of his last four first-class games, including 157* and 116 in the Duleep Trophy, 191 in the Irani Cup against Mumbai, and an unbeaten 127 against Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy opener. Already in Australia with the India A squad, Easwaran’s recent form and reliability at the crease make him a top candidate to open the innings if Rohit Sharma is unavailable.

Dhruv Jurel

Dhruv Jurel’s rapid rise as a wicketkeeper-batsman has made him a key player to watch. The 23-year-old from Uttar Pradesh first made waves with a vital 93 for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Mumbai, supporting Abhimanyu Easwaran to a 416-run innings. In his short Test career, he has already shown his mettle, scoring 190 runs in three matches against England earlier this year, including scores of 46, 90, and 39. Known for his calm in high-pressure situations, Jurel anchored India in a tricky fourth-innings chase of 192 in Ranchi, staying unbeaten with 39 alongside Shubman Gill. Most recently, he stepped in as wicketkeeper for Rishabh Pant in the first Test against New Zealand, showing his agility and reliability behind the stumps.

Harshit Rana

At 22, Harshit Rana is one of the least experienced players in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, with only nine first-class games under his belt. However, this tall, bustling pacer has notably impacted Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024, where he took 19 wickets at an economy rate of 9.08. In red-ball cricket, Rana has 21 wickets from five Ranji Trophy games in 2022-23 and scored an unbeaten 122 off 86 balls in the Duleep Trophy the following year. His inclusion over seasoned bowlers like Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini reflects his potential, and selectors believe his raw pace and variation can trouble Australia’s batters in the Test format. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy

At only 21, Nitish Kumar Reddy has showcased his skill as a seam-bowling allrounder for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and made his T20I debut against Bangladesh earlier this month. Known for his batting prowess in the middle order, he played a crucial 74 off 34 balls in the second T20I against Bangladesh, also taking two wickets with his swing bowling. Reddy’s Ranji Trophy performances have been impressive as well; he was Andhra’s leading wicket-taker in the last season with 25 wickets at an average of 18.76, including a five-wicket haul against Mumbai, dismissing players like Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer. His ability to bowl in the mid-130s and bat with power makes him a valuable addition, especially given the faith shown by his SRH captain, Pat Cummins.