Duleep Trophy 2016: 5 players from the tournament who could make the Indian Test team

With a long season of cricket at home for India, Duleep Trophy 2016 is likely to be a very good barometer for selection ahead of the series against New Zealand in September.

While the Indian Test side is fairly settled, there are still areas that can be improved and that should give everyone playing in the Duleep Trophy a huge boost in their bid to make it to the Indian Test side.

Here are 5 players who could make it to the Indian squad with a good performance in the Duleep Trophy:

Baba Aparajith

Having scored a century in his side's opening game of the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League, Baba Aparajith goes into the Duleep Trophy in amazing form. While the 22-year-old didn't set the stage on fire in the Ranji Trophy last year, he has been consistent in the longest format of the game ever since he made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in 2011.

Closing in on 50 first-class matches, the youngster certainly has the experience, unlike a few other players on this list but an average of just under 40 might not seem worthy of a place in the Indian Test side. But the fact that he plays his home games at Chepauk, arguably India's answer to a spinner's paradise shouldn't be forgotten.

The biggest advantage with Baba Aparajith aside from the fact that he can turn his arm over and bowl some decent off-spin is his versatility. Capable of playing anywhere in the top-order whether it is opening the innings or batting at No.3 or No.4, his arrival could certainly solve the balance issues at the top of the side.

Ambati Rayudu

Despite averaging over 50 after playing 34 ODIs, Ambati Rayudu has struggled to cement a place in the Indian limited-overs side. He has been the man who has always come in when India have needed a replacement but despite consistent performances never quite made enough impact for a consistent run of games.

While he has represented India in both ODIs and T20Is, despite a decent first-class record, he has never got the chance in the longest format. While his chances of getting selected for the upcoming tour of New Zealand even with impressive performances in the Duleep Trophy remain slim, he is someone worth considering.

If only because there is still a spot in the middle-order that is available and an experienced campaigner who plays spin well might be an option worth considering especially given the amount of home Tests India will now be playing.

Kuldeep Yadav

10 first-class matches before the start of the Duleep Trophy is no yardstick to measure whether a player is good enough to represent India in Tests or not. But just as we shouldn't get carried away with Kuldeep Yadav's career-best performance for India Red, we shouldn't refrain from thinking about selecting him for the upcoming home season because of his inexperience.

While it is true that the 21-year-old from Kanpur hasn't yet completed 50 matches in his career, like Indian spin legend Erapalli Prasanna mentioned recently, he will provide India with some variety in the spin department. The fact that he is a chinaman who has a quick-arm action and can bowl the top spinner and googly consistently provides another threat for the Kiwi and English batsmen to deal with.

One of the reasons why he might be fast-tracked to the side is simply because of the fact that India play more than a dozen Tests in the next few months and on pitches that offer turn and bounce, he could well be India's answer to Brad Hogg and provide them with something no one else can offer.

Abhinav Mukund

India's opening conundrum may be exemplified by KL Rahul's incredible form and start to international cricket but there is no reason why there isn't space for another opener. Especially with Cheteshwar Pujara's recent form and Shikhar Dhawan's inability to convert starts.

With over a dozen Tests to play at home in conditions that will suit spinners, who better to come in than a player who hails from the state that arguably produces the most spin-friendly pitch in the country and is adept at tackling spin. Enter Abhinav Mukund.

Mukund may have been given a chance already with the Indian set-up but considering the amount of chances both Dhawan and Rohit Sharma seem to be getting in the Test side without ever completely impressing, there's no reason why Mukund shouldn't be given one more chance. And as he showed in the first game of the Duleep Trophy, his desire for big hundreds hasn't diminished since the last time he played for India.

Nathu Singh

Not every young fast bowler makes the same kind of waves that Nathu Singh did when he impressed former Indian internationals Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and one of the finest fast bowlers cricket has seen, in Glenn McGrath. Then again, not every fast bowler wants to break Shoaib Akhtar's record of being the fastest bowler in the world.

Nathu Singh is not your average fast bowler for a variety of reasons. Although his speed is currently in the 140 kmph range, he wants to get faster and become the fastest bowler in not just India, but the world as well. But while pure pace is something India could certainly do with, it isn't everything.

Although he was the most impressive bowler in the first game of this year's Duleep Trophy, his penchant for bowling no balls is something he definitely needs to correct. Although he made the pink ball sing, he still needs to be more consistent with his line and length. But for now, his pace might be the reason for his selection to the Indian side.