For the England series, Rajat Patidar replaces Virat Kohli in the Test team.
India has called up Rajat Patidar to the squad after Virat Kohli missed the first two Test matches due to injury. The middle-order batsman attended the BCCI Annual Awards on Tuesday night and has already connected with the Indian team in Hyderabad.
Following Kohli’s request for a personal leave of absence from the first two Test matches, everyone was waiting to see who the selection committee will choose to replace him. In the first Test, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul would bat in the middle order for India, but there was no other backup hitter in the squad to deploy as a substitution for a concussion or in case of an injury at the last minute.
It is understood that Indian team management and selectors unanimously decided on Patidar, who made his comeback after missing almost eight months due to injury. Known for his attitude, the Madhya Pradesh batsman is used to batting at number four. He has an aggressive style of play in the domestic circuit, preferring to put pressure on bowlers right away.
More significantly, Patidar’s inclusion in the Test team is a result of his 151-run performance for India ‘A’ against the England Lions last week. Even though Abhimanyu Easwaran played for the team in South Africa, there are still concerns about him because he hasn’t scored in significant Ranji Trophy knockout matches.
India will no longer be looking at Cheteshwar Pujara, who opened the Ranji Trophy with a double century, thanks to the inclusion of Patidar. Additionally, Rinku Singh has been added to the India ‘A’ squad by the selectors as Patidar’s replacement as he joins the national squad.
