Last Update on: June 13th, 2021 at 09:55 pm
With as many as five uncapped players receiving the nod for India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and Shikhar Dhawan picked to lead the side, it was not a surprise from the BCCI. Nevertheless, it was already on the cards as India’s several first-choice players would be busy plying their trade in Test cricket in England. India’s tour of Sri Lanka comprises of three ODIs and as many T20Is, set to occur in Colombo from the 13th to the 25th of July.
India’s enormous cricketing depth also means that It would also be the first time that the Indian team sends two separate outfits at the same time to different continents. Simultaneously, the tourists have also opted for five net bowlers, who have a massive opportunity to learn a lot too by spending amongst the senior players and Rahul Dravid. Moreover, they have a chance to play a game as well if any of the players suffer an injury.
We take a look at five players selected as net bowlers in India’s squad to tour Sri Lanka:
Ishan Porel:
Ishan Porel emerged into the senior team’s circles after making his List A debut in February 2017 and first-class debut in November that year. Ishan’s next big break came when he earned a selection in India’s U-19 World Cup squad at the start of 2018. The right-arm speedster delivered a match-winning spell in the semi-final against Pakistan, taking figures of 6-0-17-4 and took two more in the final to fire India to a title victory.
Porel kept performing credibly in the domestic circuit and toured New Zealand along with India A, where the tourists drew the Test series and lost the ODIs. The 22-year old was also bought by Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2020 auction; however, he is unfortunately yet to play a game for them. After touring Australia as a net bowler last year, Porel will travel to Sri Lanka as well in the same breath. He picked 13 wickets in five matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year and has 137 in competitive games.
