Not Umran Malik: India call J&K pacer to join squad for Bangladesh Tests

India National Cricket Team have called young Jammu and Kashmir pacer Yudhvir Singh as a net bowler for the Test series against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. The two teams will be locking horns with each other in the two-match Test series, which will begin on 19th September.

Yudhvir Singh, who is part of Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League, is a tall 6'1 inch pacer and bows 140 kmph consistently. His inclusion might well be the indication that the Indian team don't want to take the series against Bangladesh lightly, and they want to cover each and every base.

Bangladesh's pace attack displayed a valiant effort with the ball in the Pakistan series and troubled the batters big time. The likes of Taskin Ahmed, lanky Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and others looked threatening with the ball, and the Indian management would well be aware of that ahead of the two-match series.

Yudhvir Singh has played 5 games in the IPL. He has picked 4 wickets in the league at an economy of around 10. His fast bowling ability, along with the height that he possesses, will no doubt be a great preparation for the batters ahead of the hectic Test schedule.

NEW: J&K’s Yudhvir Singh has been called to join Team India as a reserve (net) bowler for the upcoming series against Bangladesh! Yudhvir is 6’1” and bowls in high 140s, has been part of @LucknowIPL in the #IPL pic.twitter.com/wC2DpYzTAK

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) September 8, 2024

Yudhvir Singh has been part of the been part of Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Supergiants in the IPL. He has been one of the domestic performers for the Jammu and Kashmir teams in all three formats in the last few years. He also featured in the Buchi Babu multi-day tournament and reportedly impressed the selection committee.

A source close to the development stated that the BCCI had asked Yudhvir Singh to reach Chennai on 12th September. Speaking to KSportswatch, he explained:

“He received a call yesterday and was asked to report to Chennai on 12th September. It is great news for him– a stepping stone to make it to the Indian team."

India to begin preparations for Bangladesh Tests in Chennai on 12th September

Rohit Sharma-led side reportedly will be assembling in Chennai on 12th September for the Tests against Bangladesh. The squad for the series is likely to be announced next week, and as per the reports, no new names are likely to be added to the team for the two-match Test series.

The hosts will be playing a Test match for the first time since March 2024. They last featured in the longest format of the game against the England National Cricket Team. The Rohit Sharma-led side emerged victorious by the margin of 4-1 and would be hoping to carry on the same momentum in the Bangladesh series.

Bangladesh, on the other hand too, will be high on confidence. They whitewashed the Pakistan National Cricket Team in the two-match Test series. Both teams are very much in contention for the final of the World Test Championship. With the way both the teams have played the series promises to be an exciting one.