It has been a while since India had a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder in Tests. Hardik Pandya was the last tried option in this regard. However, considering his fitness issues, it would be best to keep him away from Tests. However, India needs an option for the red-ball format because when the team travels overseas, you cannot always rely on compromising with the batting depth. Therefore, it is the right time for India to invest in a quality medium-pace bowling all-rounder. On that note, here, we take a look at the list of three pace-bowling all-rounders India must groom for Tests.
1) Nitish Reddy
Nitish Reddy is the ideal candidate to groom for this role. From an age perspective, there is plenty of time for development.
Nitish is a batter in the middle-order and can be an option as the fourth seamer. Of course, there is a long way to go but Nitish is certainly capable of playing Test cricket for India.
2) Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer is one of the pace-bowling all-rounders India must groom for Tests. So far, he has been a part of only 20 FC games. However, Venkatesh never misses playing this format of the game.
For the longer format, he does have scope for improvement with the bat. With the ball, he might have to become more penetrative. Nevertheless, he does have the base on which the coaches can work on to get a Test cricketer out of him.
3) Prerak Mankad
Prerak Mankad has been doing well for Saurashtra for a while now. He is a batting all-rounder and has a lot of experience at the Ranji level. At 30 years old, he could be a decent option for Team India to try.
Prerak is technically good as a batter and can operate in the top-order. At the same time, he can provide an option as the fourth seamer in the playing XI.
