In all likelihood, star pacer Jaydev Unadkat is set to replace veteran Mohammed Shami in India's squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh which is scheduled to be played from December 14.
Sources privy to the development told Sports Ta,"looking at Unadkat's recent performance in domestic cricket he might be roped in in the squad. As of now management is yet to take the call but most likely he will be there. A formal announcement on replacements will be made soon."
It has been learnt that Unadkat is currently in Rajkot and waiting to complete his visa formalities, and is expected to link up with the Test squad in Chattogram over the next couple of days.
In case Unadkat gets the final nod, he will have to missSaurashtra’s Ranji Trophy campaign-starter against Assam. He has been impressive with the bowl in the last few years- as a fast bowler and Saurashtra captain. Unadkat spearheaded Saurashtra to their maiden Ranji Trophy title win in 2019-20 season, and under his captaincy, the team also clinched the Vijay Hazare Trophy title last week.
He was the highest wicket-taker when the side won the Ranji Trophy title in 2019-20 with 67 wickets, and topped the wickets chart in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 19 wickets in 10 games.
Shami sustained a shoulder injury during a training session in the lead up to the ODI series against Bangladesh which paved the pat for Umran Malik who was then called in as his replacement.
the touring Indian team had been struggling with injures to players such as skipper Rohit Sharma, youngsters Kuldeep Sen and Deepak Chahar who were earlier ruled out of the ODIs.
Meanwhile, riding on back-to-back centuries in India A's series against Bangladesh A, the explosive opener Abhimanyu Easwaran in all likelihood could replace the Men in Blue's skipper Rohit Sharma for the Test outing. Rohit incurred a serious injury on his thumb in the second ODI against Bangladesh on Wednesday (December 7).
Easwaran belted 141 in first Test between India A and Bangladesh A Test and was 144 not out at stumps on day two of the second Test.
While Easwaran might come in as Rohit's cover, it will be stand in skipper KL Rahul and young Shubman Gill who would be opening the innings for India in Chattogram and Dhaka.
India's bowling could have a severely depleted look as Ravindra Jadeja, who hasn't played a single match since undergoing knee surgery, will be playing the Test matches straightaway.
While Axar Patel is already in the squad, Saurabh Kumar could be called in from the A team as a back up left arm spinner unless some out of box thinking brings Suryakumar Yadav in the mix. Surya has already confirmed that he will play Mumbai's second Ranji Trophy game this season.
India Test squad for 2022 Bangladesh tour: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav.
