From IPL to Test: 6 Instances of Indian Players Picked for Test Team Based on IPL Form

Ajinkya Rahane has been recalled to India’s Test team for the World Test Championship final against Australia, which is due to begin on June 7 at the Oval. The BCCI’s senior selection committee reached the decision during a meeting on Monday evening, noting that injuries to Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Rajat Patidar had left voids in the lineup. Owing to his fantastic season in the IPL, which has played a role in his return.

There have been instances when Indian Test players were picked on the basis of their performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Here are a few examples:

1. Ravindra Jadeja – Jadeja’s IPL performances played a crucial role in his selection for the Indian Test team. After his impressive show in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, he was handed a Test debut against England in 2012. Since then, he has been a regular member of the Indian Test team.
2. Shikhar Dhawan – Dhawan’s brilliant form for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2013 IPL earned him a Test debut against Australia later that year. He made an immediate impact by scoring a century on debut and has been a consistent performer for India in Tests.
3. Karun Nair – Nair’s triple century for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2017 IPL earned him a place in the Indian Test squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. Although he didn’t get to bat in that match, he was later included in the squad for the England tour.
4. Mayank Agarwal – Agarwal’s consistent performances for the Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons earned him a place in the Indian Test squad for the Australia tour in 2018. He made his debut in the third Test of the series and impressed with his solid batting.
5. Washington Sundar – Sundar’s impressive performances for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2020 IPL earned him a call-up to the Indian Test squad for the Australia tour. He made his debut in the fourth Test of the series and played a crucial role in India’s victory by scoring an unbeaten 62 in the second innings.
6. Ajinkya Rahane – After a string of poor performances, the veteran was booted from the team at the end of the 2021-22 South African tour. However, he has made a magnificent comeback in the current IPL 2023 season, with incredible form and skill that has piqued the interest of fans worldwide. As luck would have it, critical player injuries have cleared the way for Rahane’s return to Team India for the WTC final against Australia.

While IPL performances can be a factor in selection, it is important to note that Test cricket requires a different set of skills and temperament. Hence, it is essential to strike a balance between IPL performances and consistent performances in domestic cricket before selecting players for the Test team.

Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane’s Top Knocks for India: A Recap as He Returns to India’s WTC Final Squad (cricfiles.com)