Ajit Agarkar To Fast-Track Musheer Khan For Australia Tour After Just 7 First-Class Matches

New Delhi: Musheer Khan, brother of India Test cricketer Sarfaraz, is poised to be fast-tracked into the India A squad for the Australia tour later this year following his impressive century in the Duleep Trophy 2024 opener. His performance, particularly his ability to handle pressure in the India A vs. India B match in Bengaluru, has reportedly caught the attention of chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

Batting at No.3 in his Duleep trophy debut, the right-hander did not lose his calm and when wickets were tumbled at the other end and smashed 181 which happened to be his third century in first-class cricket. His innings helped India B enable to post 321, which proved to be a crucial factor as they won the match by 76 runs.

News agency PTI reported that 19-year-old Musheer Khan, who has had an exceptional first-class season, is set to join the India A squad for the Australia tour. The tour will feature three ‘four-day’ Tests. Musheer, who scored a double century in the Ranji quarter-final and a century in the final, has caught the selection committee’s attention.

The India A team for the Australia tour will be selected based on performances in the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup match between the Rest of India and Ranji champions Mumbai, which will take place before the tour.

Subject to fitness, Musheer Khan and Rajasthan’s left-arm spinner Manav Suthar are certainity for the India A team that will tour Australia. Suthar has emerged as the best left-arm spinner after Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, pipping Saurabh Kumar. Musheer’s big scores in the Ranji Trophy final and against some of the best pace attacks further his case. His contribution of an innings of 373 balls out of a total of 116, including that with tailender Navdeep Saini, too adds to his selection call.

Musheer Khan has already hit three centuries and a half-century in his seven-match first-class career. Significantly, two of those centuries came under immense pressure to highlight he’ll back himself when the chips are down. He has looked miserable against the moving ball, but he’s only 19 to improve further.

Further, to his batting, Musheer’s skills as a left-arm spinner-a rare thing among India’s top-order batters-make him that extra bit attractive.

“What makes Musheer different is his mindset, which is very strong. I can’t predict the future but if he keeps on scoring runs consistently, he could be a very good option for the Indian team,” former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya told PTI videos.

Dahiya hailed the phenomenal consistency of Musheer Khan, saying, “The standout thing about his batting is his consistency. He started off from where he left last season, scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy semi-final and final and then a hundred on the opening day of domestic cricket in 2024.”