Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel feels there is “no harm” in trying Yash Dayal in place of either Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, beginning on Friday. Before the beginning of the Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai, skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that the workload management of their pacers will be monitored throughout their jam-packed Test schedule, which will last till January next year. India stamped their authority in the opening Test by sealing a 280-run victory. In the pre-match press conference on Thursday, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar didn’t dwell on the details of the playing XI.

Parthiv feels that Dayal, who has “tremendous potential,” can come in place of either Siraj or Bumrah, presenting a chance for everyone to see a left-arm pacer in action for India.

“This will be a great chance to see a left-armer. It has been a while since India had a left-arm seamer, so I feel if he gets the chance, it will be good. We will know. Yash Dayal has tremendous potential. So I don’t think there is harm in trying,” Parthiv Patel, who is an expert on JioCinema and Sports18 told ANI.

Another aspect that will be keenly looked at will be the middle-order setup of the Rohit-led side. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Dhruv Jurel are knocking on the door after impressing during India’s 4-1 series triumph over England earlier this year.

With the return of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul in the Test setup, Parthiv finds it hard to see the duo feature in the playing XI and could have to wait for their opportunities.

“I don’t think Sarfaraz and Dhruv will make a comeback to the side. Rishabh has just made a comeback. Both of them are very very talented players and very much ready for Test cricket. But they will have to wait for their chances,” Parthiv added.

Jurel earned his maiden Test cap for India against England in the 3rd Test in Rajkot. In his debut Test, the young wicketkeeper batter played a promising 46-run knock.

In the fourth Test, he played a match-saving knock of 90 (149) in the first inning, which propelled India’s score to 307.

Sarfaraz acted as the backbone of the Indian middle order. He garnered 200 in three matches at an average of 50.00.

Jurel and Dayal have been drafted in the Rest of India’s squad for the upcoming Irani Cup. On the other hand, Sarfaraz has been selected in Mumbai’s squad. If they are unable to make it to the playing XI against Bangladesh, they will be available to feature in the Irani Cup.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator of the Indian Premier League, 2024, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The match will commence at 7:30 PM IST. In their last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals faced an unfortunate situation as the game was abandoned due to weather conditions. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a solid victory against Chennai Super Kings, winning by 27 runs.

Faf du Plessis emerged as the top fantasy player for RCB, earning 93 fantasy points for his performance.

Head-to-Head

In the 31 matches played between these two teams, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s batters have earned the most fantasy points for their team, while the bowlers have accumulated the most points for Rajasthan Royals.

In their previous encounter this season, Jos Buttler was named Man of the Match, leading Rajasthan Royals with 151 fantasy points. Virat Kohli was the top performer for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 165 fantasy points.

Top Players to Watch

Virat Kohli:

The top-order right-handed batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli has been in exceptional form, scoring 708 runs in 14 matches, averaging 64.4 runs per game.

Faf du Plessis:

Another top-order right-handed batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Faf du Plessis has scored 421 runs in 14 matches, with an average of 30.1 per match.

Riyan Parag:

The right-handed top-order batter for Rajasthan Royals has been a significant contributor, amassing 531 runs in 14 matches, averaging 59 runs per game.

Cameron Green:

A versatile all-rounder for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Green has scored 228 runs in 12 matches, averaging 32.6. He also contributes with the ball, taking nine wickets at an average of 30.6.

Nandre Burger:

Bowling left-arm medium-fast, Nandre Burger has taken seven wickets in six matches for Rajasthan Royals, averaging 20.7 per match

Sandeep Sharma:

With his right-arm medium pace, Sandeep Sharma has claimed 10 wickets in nine matches for Rajasthan Royals, averaging 23.8.

As Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore gear up for this crucial eliminator, the performances of these key players will be pivotal in determining which team advances further in the tournament.