Indian middle-order batsman Rajat Patidar is likely to make his Test debut in Vizag with India playing the second Test against England at the venue, according to SportsTak. Team India lost the first Test by 28 runs to go down the WTC points table. The second test begins on February 2.
India he failed to chase 231 in his fourth innings with the England spinners weaving a web around the Indian batsmen. Going into the second Test, India will need to make some tactical and forced changes.
Rajat Patidar is likely to replace KL Rahul, who suffered an injury and was ruled out of the second Test match of the series against England. Also, India could debut Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced KL Rahul in the team. Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan can replace KL Rahul and Shubman Gill in the team. Gill has been going through a rough patch and his last four scores in Test cricket are 36, 10, 23 and 0 after the first innings against England. He scored only 74 runs in the series against South Africa at an average of 18.50.
Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar was named as Virat Kohli’s replacement after the former Indian captain withdrew from the first two Tests due to personal reasons. He was named in the Indian ODI team against South Africa and played in the third ODI against South Africa and scored 22 on his ODI debut.
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Team India has made some changes to its squad for the second Test after Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul were ruled out due to injury issues. While Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury, KL Rahul is suffering from a sore right quadriceps and will miss the match. Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar and Saurabh Kumar were named replacements.
Mr. Ravindra Jadeja and Mr. KL Rahul have been ruled out of the IDFC First Bank Second Test against England in Vizag, starting February 2, 2024. Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury during the game on day 4 of the first Test in Hyderabad, while Rahul complained of right quadriceps pain. The BCCI medical team is monitoring the duo’s progress. The Men’s Selection Committee added Sarfaraz Khan, Sourabh Kumar and Washington Sundar to the team from India”. Read the BCCI statement.
Rajat Patidar replaced Virat Kohli in the side
Batsman MP Rajat Patidar has been a part of many Indian A-series both home and away. Rajat Patidar became a household name in Indian cricket after bagging a contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. He scored an unbeaten ton in the Playoff against LSG in IPL 2022.
Meanwhile, India lost the first Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs as they failed to chase down 231 in the fourth innings. Tom Hartley on his debut took 7/62 in the second innings after conceding 131 runs in the first innings. The England spinners took 18 wickets in the match, compared to 14 by the Indian spinners.
England were bowled out for 246 in the first innings. India scored 436 in the first innings and took a lead of 190 runs in the process. England, thanks to Ollie Pope’s 196, scored 420 in the second innings to give India a target of 231 in the fourth innings of the Test match. The defeat left India fifth in the WTC points table, while England remains in eighth place, but gained some crucial points.
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