N. Jagadeesan Earns India Test Call-Up, Reveals Years on Select Player List

CHENNAI: N Jagadeesan, the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter, received an unexpected but welcome call-up to the Indian squad for the fifth Test against England at The Oval. The 29-year-old will be joining the team as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant.

Jagadeesan, who was preparing for a routine practice session in Coimbatore, shared his excitement with TOI, stating, "I got a call from the selector, and he said: ‘You might get another call in one hour’s time. So just be ready.’ And after that, I just had a lot of jitters waiting for the call. It was a very happy moment."

He further added, "I’ve always dreamt of being a part of the Indian Test team. I think wearing the whites has got something special to it. And that’s always been something in my head…something I really wanted to be part of. And for it to just happen, it was a very joyful moment.”

While the news might have surprised some, Jagadeesan revealed that he had been on the radar for a while. "Maybe it’s out of the blue for a lot of people, but I’ve been part of the targeted players’ list for the past two to three years. I was with all the other targeted players at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) for the entire year and over the last two and a half years. All of us wicketkeepers were there. At some point, I knew that I was probably hovering near the door. I knew I just had to put my head down, stay in the present, and work hard,” Jagadeesan said.

Jagadeesan expressed his admiration for Pant, acknowledging his resilience and talent. “No doubt he’s (Pant) a superstar. The kind of cricketer he is, it’s really special. And the way he came back from the accident, it was really brave. It’s something that a lot of people probably would not have done."

He also credited former India player Robin Uthappa and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) for their support in preparing him for the English conditions. "I’m grateful to Robin for his help. Also the fact that TNCA took me to the UK for a 27-day tour, which was a major boost. It was a very good learning experience because that was the first time I went outside Asia. Adapting to weather conditions was a big learning curve,” he said.