Harsha Bhogle reveals Test team of the year; Bumrah captain, no Rohit-Kohli-Pant

Renowned commentator-cum-journalist, Harsha Bhogle, recently unveiled his Test team of the year for 2024. The demographic breakup of Bhogle’s side includes three English players, two Indians, and one player each from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Bhogle picked two dynamic southpaws as his openers in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ben Duckett. Jaiswal has had an instrumental year 2024 so far. The young Indian batter has racked up 1,332 runs in 27 innings this year. Averaging an impressive 52, he has a chance to build on his numbers in the upcoming Boxing Day Test, to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On the other hand, Duckett finished the year with 1,100 runs under his belt.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal did everything that was asked of him as an opener, so he is my first pick in the Test Team of 2024. I have picked Ben Duckett because of the runs he has scored across the world,” stated Bhogle, while speaking in a show on for Cricbuzz.

Bhogle's numbers 3 and 4 picks were Kane Williamson and Joe Root. Williamson averages 59.58, scoring 1,013 runs in just 18 innings. As of now, Root tops the run-scoring chart with 1,556 runs in 31 innings; comprising five half-centuries and six tons to his name.  

“it was very difficult for me to look beyond Kane Williamson, even though his numbers are skewed by a bout of heavy scoring at home, but how do you put aside someone who's made huge runs at No. 3?,” observed Bhogle.

Bhogle placed the tempo-setting Harry Brook beneath Root, and forecasted that “he’s going to be special player”. Kamindu Mendis and Mohammad Rizwan were the only Sri Lankan and Pakistani players to be included, respectively. India’s ace all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, was placed at No. 8 by Bhogle. The left-handed player scalped 44 wickets, and scored  500 runs in 11 Tests this calendar year.

A lethal fast-bowling trio of Gus Atkinson (52 wickets in 11 Tests), Kagiso Rabada (32 wickets in 7 Tests), and Jasprit Bumrah (62 wickets in 12 Tests). Bhogle reserved special praise for Bumrah for his splendid performances irrespective of the format or conditions.

Bhogle's Test team of year for 2024: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Gus Atkinson, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah (c)