Ravi Shastri Names 'Workhorse' Who Could Shine For India In NZ Tests: "When The Going Gets Tough"

India play two Tests against New Zealand, starting November 19© AFP

The upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand holds enormous importance for Team India. With India sitting fourth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and New Zealand first, victory is key for Shubman Gill and co. to keep realistic hopes of reaching the final intact. The likes of Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal will need to bring their best for India to win. However, former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri named one player who could surprisingly prove to be key for Team India.

In a discussion on Sony Sports, Shastri singled out pacer Anshul Kamboj for praise, and stated that he could play a crucial role for India in the Test series.

"He can bat as well. So that comes in handy for Anshul. In the middle overs in a Test match or in an ODI game, you have got to have bowlers who have the ability to take wickets," Shastri said.

"In a country like New Zealand, in Test match cricket, you will need a workhorse, and I think he is the man who could be your workhorse - someone like a Kamboj, who can come and bowl you those 15 overs and block one end up, especially when the going gets tough, when it's very windy and things of that sort," he elaborated.

"He comes across as a bloke who has done a lot of bowling in domestic cricket for Haryana and across formats. I think he will be very useful in these conditions. Sometimes you have got to pick blokes as horses for courses. He is the kind of guy who hits the bat. He is accurate," Shastri added.

Shastri pointed to Kamboj's performance in the ongoing ODI series to highlight his impact. The 25-year-old was named 'Player of the Match' in the first ODI.

"Why India is 2-0 up is because of the performance of Anshul and Gurnoor Brar. In those middle overs where India normally go to spin to pick up wickets, it's the fast bowlers who have done the job," Shastri said.

Kamboj has played one Test and four ODIs till date.

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