The ongoing Test series between India and England has paved the way for youngsters from both teams to display their credentials on the biggest stage. A total of five players made their debuts for India in the ongoing series while England saw two debutants. Let's take a closer look at the seven players who played Test cricket for the first time in the ongoing series.
Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal stepped into the limelight in the Dharamsala Test, replacing Rajat Patidar in India's playing XI. Marking his Test debut in this picturesque venue, Padikkal had previously made his international debut in a T20 match against Sri Lanka in 2021. With an impressive Ranji season behind him, where he scored 556 runs at an average of 92 across six innings, Padikkal has accumulated 2,227 runs in 31 First-Class matches for Karnataka.
Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar was given his Test debut in the second match of the series against England in Visakhapatnam. Over three matches, his scores read 39, 9, 5, 0, 17, and 0, sparking discussions about his role in the team.
Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan made an impactful debut for Team India in the third match of the series in Rajkot. Scoring fifties in both innings of his debut match, Sarfaraz posted scores of 62 and an unbeaten 68. However, he managed 14 and 0 in the Ranchi Test.
Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel also made his international cricket debut in the Rajkot Test alongside Sarfaraz Khan. Jurel impressed with a debut score of 46 runs and played a significant innings in the Ranchi Test, scoring 90 and an unbeaten 39 runs.
Akash Deep
With Jasprit Bumrah being rested, Akash Deep received his chance to debut for Team India in the Ranchi Test. In his debut match, Akash Deep took three wickets for 83 runs. However, with Bumrah's return to the Dharamsala Test, Akash Deep was rotated out.
Tom Hartley
For England, left-arm spinner Tom Hartley made his debut in Hyderabad and made an instant impression. He bagged seven wickets in the second innings and played an instrumental role in England's victory. So far in the series, Hartley has bagged 20 wickets while also contributing 165 runs with the bat.
Shoaib Bashir
Right-arm off-spinner Shoaib Bashir made his debut in the second Test and the 20-year-old has since displayed that he boasts all the right attributes to succeed in international cricket. In two matches, Bashir has accounted for 12 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the 4th Test.
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