Former Indian top-order batter and presenter Wasim Jaffer has reckoned that Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh should be considered in the Indian Test squad. Notably, his comments came after the Duleep Trophy 2026 campaign.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kishan could play as a pure batter, with Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant already part of the Test squad. Further, he added that Tilak Varma is a three-format player and he should be considered for Test selection.
East Zone skipper Kishan ended the Duleep Trophy 2026 with 409 runs from five innings at an average of 102.25, with a hundred and a fifty, while Tilak was second in the list with 266 runs from three innings, with a hundred and two half-centuries. On the other hand, Rinku Singh has amassed 3757 runs from 53 first-class games at an average of 58.70 with nine hundreds and 23 fifties.
“I also feel he (Kishan) has presented his case for the Test team. Yes there is Jurel and Pant so there is no place there but you can consider him as a batter. Same goes with Tilak Varma. I have said many times that Tilak is a three-format player and he has a brilliant average in red-ball cricket. I think we should keep both of them in mind. I will add Rinku Singh’s name as well in this list. You must not ignore these names,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
Further, Jaffer showered praise on South Zone skipper Tilak Varma for his technique, adding that he could be slotted in the Indian middle order in Test cricket. In 25 first-class games, Tilak has amassed 1828 runs at an average of 57.12 with eight centuries and seven half-centuries.
“Tilak himself told that he used to see himself playing red-ball cricket first. It is a different thing that MI picked him and he played well in the IPL and adapted his game. But he actually prefers red-ball cricket and wants to play Tests. So that is a good thing. The technique is there, the temperament is there. Selectors must keep these few names in mind when the next Test team is made or when they need someone in the middle order,” he added.
