IND vs AUS: Wasim Jaffer Wants Key India Players To Play Ranji Trophy Ahead Of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Wasim Jaffer has urged the main players of Team India to participate in the ongoing season of the Ranji Trophy ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 against Australia.

On Saturday, January 21, India hammered New Zealand by 8 wickets in the second ODI in Raipur to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The third ODI, which will be a dead rubber, will be held in Indore on Tuesday, January 24. India will next play a three-match T20I series against the Kiwis on January 27, 29 and February 1, however, the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not part of the T20I squad.

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During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer said that the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli featuring in the Ranji Trophy will make a lot of sense as they need some red-ball practice ahead of the important Test series against Australia.

“I think it (playing Ranji Trophy) will make a lot of sense. If they play maybe one game – two innings in a Ranji game – that will surely help. No matter how experienced you are, you surely need that game time, especially in red-ball cricket. You don’t want to be undercooked when you play that first Test,” he said.

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Wasim Jaffer further said that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 holds great significance.

“It’s a huge series from all perspectives – whether it’s the World Test Championship (WTC) final that India can get into or can become the world No. 1 Test side as well. India need to do everything that they can so they are ready for that first Test match. Virat Kohli hasn’t played a lot of Test cricket for a while; Rohit and lot of others as well,” he stated.

It makes sense to send him to play that Ranji game – Wasim Jaffer on KS Bharat

Jaffer further said that the wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat, who is part of India’s ODI squad for the ongoing three-match series against the Black Caps, should definitely be sent to play Ranji Trophy. With the star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant out of action for an indefinite period of time, Wasim Jaffer feels Bharat will play a lot of Test cricket for India.

“(It is) more likely that KS Bharat is not going to play the third ODI. It makes sense to send him to play that Ranji game. He is more likely to play in place of Rishabh Pant. He has big shoes to fill. He is going to play a lot of Test cricket in Pant’s absence,” he said.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 will be played across four different venues in India. The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur will host the first Test from February 9 to 13, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi will host the second Test from February 17 to 21.

The third Test will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala from March 1 to 5 and the fourth Test will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad from March 9 to 13.

Also Read: IND vs NZ: “Will Have To Take Some Of The Responsibility”– Wasim Jaffer On Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan Ahead of 2nd ODI

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