Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has urged the Indian players to play a couple of first-class matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy in order to prepare well for the upcoming first Test match against Australia. India is currently taking New Zealand in three-match ODI series.
Meanwhile, India last played a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which they won by 2-0. The Rohit Sharma-led will have to win by a margin of 3-1 or better against the Aussies in order to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
On the other hand, India will want their key players to hit the ground running in the Test format. Virat Kohli has been in great form in the limited-overs format but he has failed to get a big score in Test matches whereas Rohit Sharma had missed the series against Bangladesh due to a finger injury.
The next round of Ranji Trophy matches will begin on Tuesday when India will face New Zealand in the third ODI.
Jaffer said during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo: “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.”
Jaffer feels it is a huge series from India’s perspective and the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma haven’t played red-ball format in the recent past.
“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 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.”
Jaffer backed KS Bharat to fill in the big shoes of Rishabh Pant in the series against Australia.
“(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.”
The first Test match between India and Australia will be played in Nagpur on February 9.
