5 players who could have been selected for the Test match against Bangladesh

Given India’s choc-o-bloc schedule ahead which includes a Test series against Sri Lanka and South Africa, it is difficult to wrap your head around the decision to field a full strength squad for just one Test match against Bangladesh. Instead, this could have been used as an ideal opportunity to breed some players who have been consistent in the domestic scene for a while now. Here’s a list of five players who have been doing exceedingly well in the Ranji trophy for the past two seasons and deserved a chance.

Robin Uthappa

Uthappa has helped Karnataka win back to back Ranji trophies

The highest run getter in the last Ranji trophy season, Robin Uthappa played an instrumental role in a Karnataka squad that steamrolled every opposition in the Ranji trophy enroute to winning the title this year. Here’s a breakdown of his numbers from the last two seasons which clearly shows that he merits a place in the side:

Ranji Trophy Season	No. of Matches	Runs Scored	Average	Highest Score	No. of centuries	No. of half-centuries
2013-2014	5	374	46.75	100	1	2
2014-2015	11	912	50.66	156	2	5

Having amassed 1286 runs from the 16 matches played over the last two seasons of Ranji Trophy, Robin Uthappa should have been on that flight to Bangladesh.

Hanuma Vihari

Vihari recently scored a double hundred in England

Another young batsman who broke into the list of top 10-run scorers of the Ranji trophy this year, Hanuma Vihari scored his second first-class double hundred this year and has been a key member of the Hyderabad side. Here’s a breakdown of his numbers from the last two seasons:

Ranji Trophy Season	No. of matches	Runs Scored	Average	Highest Score	No. of Centuries	No. of half-centuries
2013-2014	8	841	93.44	201	3	4
2014-2015	8	780	86.66	263	3	2

1621 runs from two seasons with a highest score of 263, the selectors could have given this youngster a hit in the Test match against Bangladesh ahead of an experienced campaigner.

Abhinav Mukund

Mukund played in the 2011 series in England

This left handed top-order batsman from Tamil Nadu made his Test debut for India against the West Indies at Jamaica in June, 2011. He was then picked as a reserve opener for the England tour that followed. He last played a Test match against England at Nottingham in July, 2011. Mukund has scored a total of 211 runs at an average of 21.10 with one half-century and a highest score of 62.

He was left to warm the bench post the England series and hasn’t played a match since then for India. He has been churning runs at a fairly good clip for his first-class side Tamil Nadu and his form in the last two seasons of the Ranji Trophy should have earned him a place in the Indian Test side. Here’s a numbers breakdown:

Ranji Trophy Season	No. of Matches	Runs Scored	Average	Highest Score	No. of centuries	No. of half-centuries
2013-2014	8	475	43.18	240	1	1
2014-15	11	858	45.15	140	2	4

Rishi Dhawan

Is Dhawan the seam bowling allrounder India are looking for?

This right-arm medium-fast bowler from Himachal Pradesh was the highest wicket taker for his side in this year’s Ranji Trophy. Instead of persisting with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the selectors could have been given him a chance in this one-off Test. It could have been ideal for him to experience Test Cricket at a time when India are looking for a perfect seam bowling allrounder. Here are his numbers from the last two Ranji campaigns:

Ranji Trophy Season	No. of Matches	Runs	Wickets	BBI	Average	Economy
2013-14	8	995	49	5/29	20.30	2.89
2014-15	8	990	40	7/93	24.75	2.65

Abhimanyu Mithun

Mithun has already played Test Cricket for India

This right-arm medium fast bowler from Karnataka made his Test debut for India against Sri Lanka at Galle in July, 2010. He has played a total of 4 Test matches during which he picked 9 wickets at an economy rate of 3.80 and had one 4-wicket haul to his name.

In the last two seasons, he has been a prolific wicket-taker for his team in the domestic arena and he could have easily been one of the pacers in the side considering Shami has been injured. Here are his numbers: