Selection cues: Patidar ahead of Sarfaraz, for now

On the whiteboard outside the India nets on Thursday were scribbled the names of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel. But soon enough Shubman Gill too joined, getting a good stride into most of his shots.

- Somshuvra Laha

Using his feet to greater effect was Jaiswal, often skipping down the crease to spinners. Khan took his time sussing up the conditions, padded up, chatted with Patidar for a while before almost nonchalantly taking apart the net bowlers. This, in a session, was India's future trying to gain a toehold into the present. No Virat Kohli and no KL Rahul means an unprecedented expectation to perform at home when India need them most, and yet there was an air of calm around them.

It almost prompted fond recollection of 2021, when India were forced to make changes at Gabba with almost half the squad walking wounded. That win was the coming of age of Rishabh Pant but also gave us Gill and a glimpse of a complete allrounder in Washington Sundar. Is this then, another chance to unearth a new character? There will be a new No 5 after Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Gill and Shreyas Iyer. And by logic, Patidar should get a debut. And for good reason as well.