When was the last time Shahbaz Nadeem played a Test for India?

Shahbaz Nadeem plays his 2nd Test for India
Shahbaz Nadeem plays his 2nd Test for India

Shahbaz Nadeem was a surprise inclusion in the Indian team for the first Test against England. With Axar Patel ruled out due to a knee injury, the 31-year-old left-arm spinner got his chance in the Chennai Test.

He will act as India's third spinner, joining the duo of Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin. Team India were keen on getting a left-arm spinner in the side to have some variety in the spin department, and Shahbaz Nadeem’s selection makes that possible.

But has he ever played a Test match for India before?

Shahbaz Nadeem made his Test debut in 2019

Shahbaz Nadeem made his Test debut for India against South Africa in 2019. The left-arm spinner got a chance to represent his nation 15 years after making his domestic debut for Jharkhand in 2004.

At Ranchi, Shahbaz Nadeem had a decent Test debut. He picked up four wickets n the match, scalping two in each innings. The spinner ended with match figures of 4/62 and kept things tight with an economy of 2.30.

Shahbaz Nadeem played alongside India’s premier spin bowling duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Incidentally, he finished the Test as India’s top wicket-taker amongst the spinners, with Ashwin and Jadeja managing one and three wickets respectively.

Why was Shahbaz Nadeem selected against England?

Many expected Kuldeep Yadav to play in Chennai, and eyebrows were raised after Shahbaz Nadeem made it to India's playing XI. However, his inclusion makes sense for a variety of reasons.

England have struggled against left-arm spinners in recent times. Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya picked up 15 wickets in the two-match Test series on home soil.

Another reason for picking Shahbaz Nadeem could be the high number of right-handed batsmen in the England team. Shahbaz Nadeem will be expected to make full use of his favourable angle against the English top-order.

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Edited by Samya Majumdar