India vs Afghanistan: Four test match newbies who need to fight for their spots in the eleven

India takes on Afghanistan in the historic one-off Test match at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru from June 14-18. Ajinkya Rahane is all set to walk out for the toss for the Men in Blue in the absence of Virat Kohli. This will the first ever Test for the Afghans who recently won the T20 series against Bangladesh at their new 'adopted' home of Dehradun. This promises to be an exciting contest as the cricketing world will be witnessing the battle between the top test nation and one of the exciting as well as a talented cricketing nation.

Several Test match newbies who have been named in the squad, need to fight for their places in the starting eleven. It is going to be a tactical headache for Captain Rahane and the team management ahead of the Afghan test. Let us now look at four newbies who might face the tough task of getting into the eleven.

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4) Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

The slow left-arm chinaman bowler was excellent in the six-match ODI series against South Africa in February. Along with Yuzvendra Chahal, he rattled the Proteas batting line-up and ensured a famous victory for Virat Kohli's men. The spin duo of Chahal-Kuldeep was one of the pivotal factors in India's dominating show against the South Africans.

Kuldeep, who made his Test debut against Australia earlier in 2017 last played a test match for India in August 2017 against Sri Lanka away from home. The fact that the experienced Ravindra Jadeja is in the squad, puts his spot under scrutiny. Jadeja has always been magnificent in the Indian conditions and has proved that time and again in the longer format.

Jadeja last played a Test match for India in the home series against Sri Lanka last year. His rapport with Ashwin has always been excellent and the team management might likely continue with the duo. The fact that he is also a valuable lower middle-order batsman augurs well for the Saurashtra player, who is expected to give Kuldeep Yadav a tough fight for a spot in the eleven.

3) Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur

Thakur, who has represented India in seven T20I matches and three ODIs is yet to make his Test debut. He was a part of the Indian squad that convincingly won the ODI series in South Africa earlier this year and was also in the Indian squad for the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka. He was excellent for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2018 IPL, picking up 16 wickets in 13 games.

But the Test cricket is a different ball game and Thakur has to fight for his spot in the eleven. Thakur perceived more as a good limited overs bowler might get the nod only if the management decides to play with five bowlers, which looks unlikely given the Indian pitch conditions.

2) Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini

The right-arm medium bowler from Karnal had a stellar domestic season for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, picking up 34 wickets in eight games. Delhi lost to a spirited Vidarbha side that won its maiden Ranji title. His excellent domestic show created a bidding war between various franchises at the 2018 IPL auctions, where he was eventually bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping INR 3 crore.

Unfortunately, he did not get a chance to don the RCB jersey for the entire season. Saini, who is so good at swing is yet to play a game for India at the highest level. But he has bigger shoes to fill, after being roped in as a replacement to Mohammed Shami who failed the yo-yo test just days before the historic test. Saini might have to fight for his place in the eleven as the squad comprises of the experienced duo of Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.

1) Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

The flamboyant Pandya, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last year has so far played six Test matches for India. He is a valuable all-rounder for Team India when it comes to the limited overs cricket, contributing with crucial knocks down the order and with his spells. During the South Africa tour, Pandya made a crucial 93 in the first test at Cape Town, which India lost by 72 runs due to a dismal display of batting.

Considering the South African conditions, Pandya was selected as the fifth bowler for Team India earlier this year. But he had a poor outing with the ball in the Test series, as he managed just three wickets in three tests and was ineffective during the long spells. This might ensure that Pandya fights for the elusive all-rounder spot in the eleven with Ravindra Jadeja. With pacers aplenty, it is not going to easy for him to cement his place in the Indian eleven.