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Test series: Rajat Patidar and Kuldeep Yadav in India's plans against England

While Patidar will come in for Rahul, there’s a possibility of playing an extra batter and giving Sarfaraz his maiden Test cap

Indranil Majumdar Hyderabad Published 30.01.24, 07:49 AM
Washington Sundar.

Washington Sundar. File picture

Rajat Patidar is set to make his debut after KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were ruled out of the second Test against England, which starts in Visakhapatnam from Friday.

While Jadeja suffered a hamstring strain on the fourth day of the Hyderabad Test in his bid to avert being run out, Rahul complained of pain in his right quadriceps. Middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar and all-rounder Washington Sundar have been added to India's squad, the BCCI said in a statement.

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Rahul and Jadeja's absence will come as a huge blow to India's batting, which is already struggling in the absence of Virat Kohli.

The squad will travel to Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, but there's already talk about strengthening the batting. The consistent failures of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have added to India's problems. Any good performance by the newcomers could shut the door on Gill and Shreyas once the regulars come back.

While Patidar will come in for Rahul, there's a possibility of playing an extra batter and giving Sarfaraz his maiden Test cap. India will have to go in with only one specialist pacer in Jasprit Bumrah in such circumstances.

The wicket is expected to be another turner for the second Test, but whether it turns out to be similar to the ones used in the last home series against Australia remains to be seen.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be favoured to replace Jadeja to add more variety to the attack. Kuldeep has an excellent record — 34 wickets at an average of 21.55 in eight Tests.

Jadeja is expected to be available for the third Test onwards. He had undergone scans on Sunday evening and the decision was taken in consultation with the BCCI's medical team in Mumbai.

Sarfaraz comes fresh from a scintillating 160-ball 161 in the second unofficial Test against England Lions last week. Saurabh too was instrumental in that innings victory with a five-wicket haul.

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