"Put me in a Test match," demands Sai Kishore ahead of the Duleep Trophy

The Indian cricket setup, at this moment, has no dearth of eligible prospects for any position in the national side. With the IPL highlighting multiple domestic and young stars every year, the board faces the challenging task of picking the best for the national team. However, with only 15 spots up for grabs, many skillful players are left behind. One of these players recently addressed the BCCI, asking them to "put him in a red-ball match." Recently recovered from a neck injury, Tamil Nadu spinner Sai Kishore noted that he is one of the best spinners in the country currently and should be given a chance in the national Test side.

Sai Kishore demands a spot in the Indian Test team

Sai Kishore, 27, has proved to be a key player in the IPL for Gujarat Titans in the last two seasons. Playing under a young captain in IPL 2024, the Tamil Nadu spinner put on a noteworthy performance. The seasoned player scalped a figure of 4/33 against Punjab Kings, even earning a Player of the Match accolade. However, his brilliant run in the edition was cut short when he endured a neck injury during a golf match in the midst of the season. After an extended stay at the NCA in Bengaluru, Kishore made his way back into action through the recently concluded season in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.

"I was very grateful to be back. Honestly, to get back to normal life only was an achievement, cricket was a bonus. When I came in, I knew I couldn't do it (bowl as much). I accepted that but I wanted to take the challenge. Mind was there, but the body was not fully there. So I had to make others do the job," Kishore said as he opened up about his recovery from the neck injury.

However, the Tiruppur Tamizhans player is now fit to roll his arm over. The 27-year-old has put himself in the lineup to play in the ongoing Buchi Babu Trophy. Moreover, now fully recovered from the injury, Kishore has also been named in the Duleep Trophy squad for the first round starting in September. Right ahead of taking on the Duleep Trophy, Kishore expressed his readiness to play for India in Tests.

"I feel I am one of the best spinners in the country. Put me in a Test match. I am ready. So, I am not worried too much," Kishore said recently. "I feel so confident because I have never trained in the block I have now. Maybe before getting into the IPL, I would have trained like this," he added.

The Duleep Trophy squad for this season has brought back all the notable names to domestic action. Players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja will feature in the domestic circuit. With the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh and eventually the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Duleep Trophy performances will prove significant for Indian team selection. Thus, Kishore has a chance to back his confident words with an impactful performance in the upcoming domestic series if he wants to earn a spot on the Indian cricket team.