Stuart Binny: Tried but untested

The decision to include Binny in the Test squad for India's tour of England looks like a huge leap of faith.

It is too early to judge Binny, because he has had too few opportunities in the shorter formats of the game. (Source: PTI File)

On new year’s eve, all-rounder Stuart Binny had been named in the One-day International squad for the series against the Black Caps. With the 50-over World Cup to be played in seamer-friendly conditions in Australia and New Zealand in 2015, Binny’s inclusion was seen as an internship opportunity handed out to the allrounder.

Since then, Binny has bowled one over for eight runs — his international debut — in the only ODI (Hamilton) he played on the tour of New Zealand. He was dismissed for a duck before conceding 22 in four overs against Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup, his second and last match till date for India.

Impressed with his 2013 IPL exploits, the selectors had also included him in the squad for the World T20 in Bangladesh, a tournament where he warmed the bench.

It is too early to judge Binny, the son of former India cricketer and current South Zone selector Roger Binny, because he has had too few opportunities in the shorter formats of the game. But so far, captain MS Dhoni, even though he desperately needs a medium-pace all-rounder, has not been prepared to place his faith in Binny.

In this context, the decision to include Binny in the 18-member Test squad for the tour of England looks like a huge leap of faith as well as an odd promotion. As he is not even a regular in the playing XI in ODIs or even T20 Internationals, there are bound to be questions over Binny’s place in the Test side.

But there is a logical explanation to Binny being picked for the Test squad. He fits into a slot India have found hard to fill over the years. In the absence of a batsman who can double-up as a medium pacer, Dhoni has struggled to field a balanced team in overseas conditions — where spinners have a limited role and adding a fifth bowler means a frontline batsman has to be sacrificed.

This is a role that Irfan Pathan performed before he faded away because of a combination of a drop in form and frequent injuries. Sourav Ganguly, Ajit Agarkar and Sanjay Bangar have added balance to the Test side by performing dual roles with mixed success.

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Over the past couple of seasons, Binny has been consistent in First-Class cricket when representing Karnataka but Test cricket away from home may prove to be a completely different ball game should the bits-and-pieces all-rounder get a look-in.

Nihal is a senior assistant editor based in Delhi.
nihal.koshie@expressindia.com

Nihal Koshie

Nihal Koshie is an Associate Editor and sports writer at The Indian Express. He is best known for his in-depth reporting and investigative work that often explores the intersection of sports and social issues. He is also a key member of the sports desk, which is based out of The Indian Express' office in Noida. Professional Background Role: Associate Editor (Sports) at The Indian Express. Key Achievements: He is a two-time winner of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. He won the RNG award for 'Sports Journalism' for 2019 for his exclusive interview and follow up stories with sprinter Dutee Chand, who became the first Indian athlete to say she was in a same-sex relationship. He won his second RNG award in the 'Investigative Reporting' for 2023 for a series of exclusive stories related to sexual harassment charges levelled against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by the country's top women wrestlers. Expertise: While he covers major sports, he is particularly recognized for his extensive reporting on Athletics, investigative stories and long-form news features. Recent Notable Topics & Articles (Late 2025) Nihal Koshie’s recent work reflects a focus on investigative and human-interest stories Recent investigative pieces: He recently wrote a profile of an Indian teenager serving a jail sentence in Kenya after being embroiled in a doping scandal while chasing "Olympic dreams." Wrestling: He continues to track the political and social fallout of the Indian wrestling protests, including the recent public appearances of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the political career of wrestler Vinesh Phogat. Recent long-form features: The story of the rise of Kranti Gaud, the young fast bowler who was a key member of the ICC women's World Cup-winning team; The physics and science behind modern cricket bats Podcast Presence He is a guest and contributor to the "Game Time" podcast by The Indian Express, where he provides technical and social analysis of current sporting events. Experience: 24+ years Previous experience: Times of India (2001-2005), Daily News and Analysis (2005 to 2010) Nihal joined The Indian Express in May, 2010 Social Media X ( formerly Twitter) : @nkoshie You can follow his latest work and full archive on his official author profile. ... Read More

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