5 Indian players who should play county cricket ahead of England tour

County Cricket championships are one of those competitions that help players from various countries hone their cricketing skills and establish themselves in the highest league. Numerous legends of the game like Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram have acknowledged the impact of County cricket and how it helped them become top cricketers. However, the participation of players in county cricket these days has become rare due to the tight cricketing schedules.

When India won the series in England in 2007, Zaheer Khan’s contribution was immense. His county stint with Worcestershire, where he picked 78 wickets in 16 games, helped him to regain his place in the national side and he was instrumental in India’s success.

As far as the participation of current Indian players is concerned, it’s endearing to watch the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Ravi Ashwin excel in county cricket and get accustomed to the English conditions. However, there are other key players who could benefit a lot by participating in county cricket before the marathon Test series begins against England.

KL Rahul

Australia v India - 4th Test: Day 3

KL Rahul is one of India’s highly rated Test batsman and his record in subcontinent conditions is brilliant. The right-handed batsman has a stern defense and plays all the shots in the book, but he has also shown signs of vulnerability against the moving ball. In the recently concluded Test series against South Africa, Rahul was found wanting in seaming conditions against the likes of Philander and Rabada which dented his confidence.

The 26-year-old is a natural stroke maker, but when it comes to seaming conditions, he has to curb his natural instincts and leave a lot of balls outside the off stump like his counterpart Murali Vijay in order to be successful. Having a short stint with any of the county sides will do a world of good for the Karnataka batsman.

Virat Kohli

2nd Sunfoil Test: South Africa v India, Day 2

Virat Kohli is probably the best batsman in the world across all formats, but his dominance is far superior in ODIs and T20s compared to Tests. Fortunes have changed for Virat since he took over the captaincy and his game has risen in the longer format.

The Indian skipper’s toughest test came against South Africa earlier in the year and he stood up to the challenge like a real champion, ending up as the leading run-scorer in the Test series where the conditions were bowling friendly.

The job is not yet finished for Virat as he has to endure the biggest test of his career - being successful in English conditions, where the 29-year-old has struggled a lot during his previous tours. Virat has taken the decision to play in the county championships for a short stint and if that happens it will benefit the team’s cause tremendously.

Mohammed Shami

South Africa v India - 3rd Test Day 3

Mohammed Shami didn’t have much success during the England tour in 2014 compared to his counterparts Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma as he struggled a lot with his control with the Duke ball. Shami’s biggest strength is his upright seam position and he has a beautiful delivery stride to the crease.

Over the years, Shami has evolved into a reliable Test bowler by improving his pace and directing sharp bouncers which have caused serious trouble for the batsmen. However, he needs to work on his control which is a key aspect when it comes to Test cricket. Playing county cricket will give him enough time to get adjusted to the conditions and sharpen his skills.

Umesh Yadav

Australia v India: 3rd Test - Day 4

Umesh Yadav is often used as a partnership breaker when things get hard for his side. One of his biggest strengths is his ability to crank up the pace even at the fag end of the day. He has the ability to turn a session on its head if he finds the proper rhythm. The 30-year-old lost his place in the side because of some poor form and was replaced by Bumrah in the series against South Africa.

Bumrah’s success in the longer format has made things difficult for Yadav to regain his place and by having a good stint in the county circuit, Yadav can improve his consistency and make a strong case to crawl back into the side.

Hardik Pandya

South Africa v India - 2nd Test, Day 1

The inclusion of Hardik Pandya into the Test side has clearly sent a strong message that India are ready to sacrifice an extra batsman and go with an all-rounder. The lanky lad from Vadodara didn’t have a bad start to his Test career. He played a pivotal role in the Test series against South Africa and scored runs in the opening Test match whilst also chipping in with wickets to break crucial partnerships.

However, if India need to stick with him in the longer run, the 24-year-old has to improve his skill set with the bat. Pandya provides a decent option for the captain as a bowler, but in desperate situations, he has to come good with the bat and bail out his team. Getting involved in county cricket at this very young age will pay rich dividends for him and it will help him gather experience which will help him in the future.