NEW DELHI: With India gearing up for the highly anticipated Test series against New Zealand, the focus remains not only on winning but also on nurturing emerging talent within the squad.
Team India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of developing a robust pipeline of fast bowlers, particularly as the team prepares for the demanding conditions expected during the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia later this year.
“Mayank has shown what he is capable of, but we need to be cautious with him,” Rohit said in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “He has dealt with several injuries in the past, so we don’t want to rush him. We’ll monitor him daily and gradually build up his workload with the red ball. Our aim is to develop him progressively rather than throwing him straight into international cricket.”
The inclusion of young talents like Harshit Rana, Nitesh Kumar Reddy, and Mayank Yadav as Travelling Reserves signals a strategic shift towards investing in the future.
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“We have seen potential in them. They haven’t played much red-ball cricket, but we want to groom them and bring them closer to the team in a short period. They’ve shown they have some ability as well,” Rohit noted.
“We wanted to keep them close because we are thinking of taking them to Australia. It’s important to monitor their workloads and gradually build them up to see what they can offer. We want to create bench strength, especially with fast bowlers. We have 8 or 9 options, not just 3 or 4. Like we have multiple options in batting, we want the same depth with our bowlers,” the skipper further added.
As the team prepares for the first Test at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, fans are eager to see how the blend of experience and youth will perform against a formidable New Zealand side.
