Call-up, reward for his performance

EVEN as Rishabh Pant's injury came as a dampener for the Indian team, it meant that Tamil Nadu keeper-batter N Jagadeesan has received his maiden Test call-up for the fifth and final Test against England to be played at The Oval on Thursday.

- ASHOK VENUGOPAL @Chennai

Jagadeesan has been rewarded for his consistent performances in the last two seasons for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, where he top-scored for his side. In the 2023/24 season, he made 816 runs at 74.18 with a high score of 321. In the 2024/25 Ranji season, he made 674 runs at 56.16. Jagadeesan's personal coach AG Guruswamy, a highly respected figure in Tamil Nadu cricketing circles, is all the more pleased that his protege will be going to England. "Very happy that Jagadeesan has been called by the Indian team management for the last Test as a back up for injured Pant. He has been working hard all these years and in the last two years, he has done extremely well for Tamil Nadu in both white-ball and red-ball cricket. He deserves the call-up," said Guruswamy.