Page 39 - The Indian EYE 112224

SPORTS NOVEMBER 22, 2024 | The Indian Eye 39

but a 12-wicket haul by Nathan Lyon
outshined him completely. This was
the only Test he played, with Ashwin
returning later.
He also played two ODIs and a
T20I for India, picking up a wicket
across both of these formats.
Karn continues as a key domes-
tic cricket player for Railways, having
picked up 255 wickets in 89 first-class
games and last played this year for
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
in this year’s IPL.
KL Rahul (2014)
Rahul made his debut in inter-
national cricket under MS Dhoni in
2014 during the third Test of the se-
ries at Melbourne, scoring just four
runs across two innings. However, he
scored a fine 110 in the next match at
Sydney, which ended in a draw.
His international career has gone
through a lot of ups and downs since
then due to injuries and inconsisten-
cy. In 202 international matches, he
has made 8,097 runs at an average
of 39.30, with 17 centuries. In Tests,
he averages just 33,87 having made
2,981 runs in 53 Tests with eight cen-
turies. Brilliant patches and knocks
have often been followed by either
an injury or loss of form. KL would Mohammad Siraj celebrates a wicket of Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto during a recent Test match in Chennai (ANI)
be looking to get his career on track
this time around with a fine showing in the match-winning effort at the Test debut in Melbourne during the with three fifties. He has also played
in BGT in Australia, where he aver- Gabba, helping India to an inspira- second Test at Melbourne. He was a 22 ODIs and 52 T20Is since his inter-
ages just above 20. tional series win, getting key wickets crucial part of the young, inexperi- national debut in 2017.
Mayank Agarwal (2018) of Marnus Labischagne and Steven enced Indian line-up which secured
Mayank made his internation- Smith. He took a total of 13 wickets an inspiring 2-1 win over Austra- T Natarajan (2021)
al debut during the 2018-19 BGT at in three matches. lia. In three matches, he scored 259 Natrajan made his debut across
Melbourne in third Test, replacing Siraj is now an all-format star for runs at an average of 51.80, with two all formats during the 2020-21 tour
KL Rahul. Mayank scored a fine 76 India, having taken 165 wickets in half-centuries and best score of 91. to Australia and played his first Test
in the first innings and 42 in the sec- 91 matches, including 80 wickets in Since then, Gill has become an at Gabba, picking up three wickets
ond, playing a crucial part in India’s 31 matches. He readies himself for a all-format star, scoring 4,706 runs in and has not played first-class cricket
137-run win. In two Tests of the se- second Australia tour and would be 97 matches with 12 centuries and 23 since then. Though he has played for
ries, Mayank scored 195 runs in three second-most experienced pacer in fifties. ODIs are his preferred for- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the
innings, at an average of 65.00, with the attack after Jasprit Bumrah. mat, scoring 2,328 runs in 47 matches Indian Premier League (IPL) since
best score of 77. Navdeep Saini (2021) with six centuries and 13 fifties. With then, his last international match was
In 21 Tests in his career, with a steady run of form behind him, he against England in March 2021.
Saini made his debut in whites
his last coming against Sri Lanka in during the Sydney Test last time in would be aiming to do good in his The much-anticipated Bor-
March 2022, Mayank scored 1,488 the 2020-21 series, taking two wick- second Aussie tour. der-Gavaskar series between India
runs at an average of 41.33, with four ets in each innings and in the next and Australia kicks off on November
centuries and six fifties in 36 innings. game went wicketless. He has not Washington Sundar (2021) 22, with the first Test at Perth. The
His best score is 243. He continues played a Test since. Ever since his in- Having made his Test debut in second Test, featuring the day-night
playing domestic cricket, leading ternational debut in 2019, Saini has the iconic Gabba Test win during format, will take place under lights at
Karnataka in the ongoing Ranji Tro- taken 23 wickets in 21 international 2020-21 series, Sundar scored 62 and Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10.
phy 2024/25. 22 in the match and took four wick- Fans will then turn their atten-
matches, including eight ODIs and ets, including three in the first in- tion to The Gabba in Brisbane for the
Mohammed Siraj (2020) 11 T20Is. His last outing in Indian co- nings. His match-winning stand with third Test from December 14 to 18.
Siraj’s entry into international lours was a T20I against Sri Lanka in Shardul Thakur is a very memorable The traditional Boxing Day Test,
cricket was a moment of emotion and July 2021. Saini was recently picked chapter of the India-Australia rivalry. scheduled from December 26 to 30
for the India A series Down Under,
resilience, as he bravely defied the and is present in the BGT squad as Now, after some fine perfor- at Melbourne’s iconic Melbourne
racism from the crowd in his debut a reserve players alongside Mukesh mances with the bat and ball in the Cricket Ground, will mark the series’
series. In absence of injured senior Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed. recently concluded home series penultimate stage.
players, Siraj stepped up big-time, against New Zealand, Sundar has The fifth and final Test will be held
leading the pace battery in final Test Shubman Gill (2021) been picked up as the third spinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground from
at Gabba with an experience of just Gill, having made his interna- for the series. He has played six Tests, January 3 to 7, promising an exciting
two Tests before that. He took 5/73 tional debut in 2019, got to make his taken 22 wickets and made 354 runs climax to a highly anticipated series.

www.TheIndianEYE.com