The BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has put an end to all the rumors about who will replace Virat Kohli by selecting Rajat Patidar for the Indian squad in the first two Tests against England.
They had options like the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara and young players Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, and Rinku Singh. However, it was confirmed on Tuesday night that Patidar got the spot. Kohli won’t be playing in the matches in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam due to personal reasons. The BCCI, in an official statement, asked for privacy for Kohli and mentioned that they would announce a replacement soon.
Who is Rajat Patidar?
Rajat Patidar, born on June 1, 1993, is an Indian cricketer. He plays cricket for Madhya Pradesh in India and represents the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Rajat is a right-handed batsman who usually plays in the top order and can bowl off-spin.
Recently, he was chosen to replace Virat Kohli in two Test matches against England. This will be Rajat Patidar’s first international Test match, marking his debut at the international level.
Rajat Patidar Performance in Domestic Cricket
Rajat Patidar is no stranger to batting in the middle order, and he’s known for staying calm and scoring quickly against both fast and spin bowlers. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year, he did well, scoring 315 runs in six innings with an average of 52.50 and an impressive strike rate of 104.30.
His performance in 55 first-class matches, with an average of 46, shows he’s skilled in red-ball cricket. Initially, Patidar was part of India A’s squad for the second and third four-day matches against England Lions.
However, when Virat Kohli couldn’t play, the selection committee chose Rinku Singh for the India A squad, opening the door for Patidar to join the Test team.
Is Rajat Patidar Was Good Replacement Of Virat kohli?
Rajat Patidar has been included in India's Test squad for the first two matches of the series.
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) January 23, 2024
-No chance for Sarfaraz Khan yet. pic.twitter.com/pQuv1zvgG7
The selection committee and team management picked Rajat Patidar in replacement of Virat Kohli, opting for a change from the Pujara-Rahane combination. This decision might be influenced by Rahane and Pujara not being active in recent matches and their lower strike rates in Test cricket.
On the other hand, Rajat Patidar has shown good performances in the middle order with an impressive strike rate, making him a favorable choice for the team.
Ind vs Eng 1st Test
The first Test match between India and England will begin at 9:30 am for all five days at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. You can watch the match on Sports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD if you’re using a television.
Rajiv Gandhi international stadium Uppal latest!! 😍 #INDvsENG ready!! pic.twitter.com/zv5jwfNOBx
— Sports Addict (AJ) (@AJpadhi) January 20, 2024
For those using smart TVs, laptops, or smartphones, the match will be available on the JioCinema website. If you have the JioCinema app on your smartphone, you can also stream the India vs England first Test match on the app.
Expected Playing 11 Of Team India
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, KS Bharat, R. Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, R. Jadeja
