IND vs ENG: Cheteshwar Pujara to Rajat Patidar - Five India cricketers eyeing spots in last 3 Tests vs England

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IND vs ENG: The 16-member squad for the first two Test matches against England has been announced. The first Test will start from January 25, and India will look to stretch their unbeaten run in home Test series.

While the team looks already solid, there are a bunch of supremely talented players who have been left out. Each one of them is looking to give their best in India A and Ranji Trophy 2023-24 matches to earn a spot for the final three Tests of the five-match series.

IND vs ENG: Five cricketers who are eyeing Test call up with Ranji Trophy performance

Cheteshwar Pujara: The out-of-favour Test specialist is currently the leading run-scorer in Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Pujara, who was dropped after India's defeat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023, has scored 444 runs in three matches, including a double hundred in the first match against Jharkhand.

Shubman Gill has currently taken the number three spot from Pujara, and the failure of the youngster can create a window of opportunity for the veteran cricketer.

India are touring Australia for a five-Test series towards the end of the year, and Pujara would definitely be aiming to be on that flight and end his career on a high.

Rajat Patidar: The Madhya Pradesh batter recently made his ODI debut in South Africa, and has all the qualities to serve the Indian Test team for a long time. The 30-year-old right-hand batter scored 33 runs off 67 balls in India A's draw match in South Africa.

He grabbed attention in England A's ongoing tour of India. He smashed a hundred in the tour game before following it up with another hundred in the 1st Unofficial Test. It would be hard to ignore RaJat Patidar if he continues to impress in the next two Unofficial Test matches.

Tilak Varma: Audition for the next generation of India Test batters is on. Shubman Gill and Shreyas are currently the two players trying to make two positions their own. Neither of them impressed in South Africa.

Tilak Varma would want to throw his hat in the mix. He smashed a hundred days after being released from the Indian T20I side. Batting against Sikkim, the 21-year-old Hyderabad captain smashed unbeaten 103 runs off just 111 balls. The innings consisted of eight fours and 11 sixes.

In his first-class career of 12 matches, Varma has scored 776 runs at an average of 51.73. He has hit three hundreds and three fifties already in red-ball cricket. He would be raring to be in the Test dressing room of the Indian cricket team.

Rinku Singh: The Uttar Pradesh batter can turn anything he touches into gold at the moment. He is fast becoming Rohit Sharma's go-to man. The southpaw dreaming of a Test cap cannot be ruled out.

The 26-year-old featured in Uttar Pradesh's first Ranji Trophy match of the season and slammed 92 runs in the only innings he batted. Rinku has a stupendous batting record in first-class cricket. He has featured in 43 matches and scored 3099 runs at an average of 58.47.

Rinku Singh has been inducted in the India A squad for the 3rd match against England Lions. The ball is in Rinku's court now, and he will be aiming to make the most of the opportunity.

Ishan Kishan: Head coach Rahul Dravid has made it clear that the player on sabbatical will have to return to domestic cricket before making himself available for selection.

Having already missed three matches for Jharkhand, Ishan Kishan would now look to get back to action and pave his way back into the team. Competitor KS Bharat hit a timely hundred for India A on Saturday. Ishan Kishan must have taken a note.