Gurkeerat included in India’s Test team

The all-rounder from Punjab has been knocking on the doors of selection with impressive performances in the first-class and List A arenas in the last two months. He was a part of India's ODI squad against South Africa.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann took nine wickets in his last competitive match, a Ranji Trophy tie against Andhra.

All-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann has been included in India’s team for the second Test against South Africa in Bengaluru, according to an announcement by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). He will join the team ahead of its preparations for the contest beginning on Saturday.

The all-rounder from Punjab has strung together impactful performances in the last two months in first-class and List A matches. In the first of two matches he played in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, against Railways, he scored a double-century, and in the next, against Andhra, he took nine wickets. He had also impressed in the unofficial One-Day International (ODI) series between India A and Bangladesh A in September, and the unofficial ODI tri-series in Chennai in August.

Gurkeerat was a part of the ODI squad for India in the recently concluded five-match series. With India struggling to get the balance of their line-up right, Gurkeerat was spoken about as a choice that can fill the role of a handy bat and a decent spinner.

Spin was the factor that helped India put up a 1-0 lead in the ongoing Test series. Gurkeerat, with his offbeaks, will be the fourth spin option in the team, besides Ravichandran Ashwin’s off-spin, Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin, and Amit Mishra’s leg-spin.