Great opportunity for Stuart Binny to seal all-rounder spot in Indian team

New Delhi: With the South Africa series at home looming ahead for the Indian cricket team, places are up for grabs in all three formats of the game. One such player who could seal the pivotal all-rounder spot in the team is Stuart Binny.

Binny who has been named in the T20 and ODI squad will also make the cut for Tests after having last featured against Sri Lanka last month. With the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and the unconvincing form of Axar Patel, Stuart Binny could find himself getting the lead role for the all-rounder spot.

India lack a genuine all-rounder of late and Binny is the closest they have come across in recent times. The Karnataka player recently stated that he has made some mental changes in his head in order to approach international cricket. With South Africa being a quality opposition, Binny knows his experience in domestic cricket could play a major role.

Binny's ability to bowl with both the new and old ball will give Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli options in the shorter and longer formats respectively. Binny managed to pick just three wickets and score a total of 76 runs in the two Tests he played against Lanka. In Tests he needs to work more hard with Virat Kohli favouring a five-bowler strategy and Binny fits the scenario as the fifth option.

In ODIs Binny's performances against Zimbabwe was impressive with both bat and ball. That has urged the selectors to put their faith on him.

Axar Patel and Gurkeerat Singh Mann are the other two players who could be put into the role in the limited overs. But with lack of genuine seamers, Binny holds the edge and it is an opportunity for the 31-year-old to show his mettle.

South Africa series will be one of the toughest bilateral series for India in recent times and the platform for Binny is huge to make a mark in the Indian cricket team. Binny knows about his role in the side, but executing his skills on the field will be his biggest challenge in such a vital series.