Leading up to the first match of the five-match Test series between India and England, Anil Kumble, the former Indian captain and leg spinner, has suggested that Shreyas Iyer would be a more suitable replacement for Virat Kohli than top-order batsman Rajat Patidar, who recently showcased his skills for India A in unofficial Tests against England Lions.
Anil Kumble initially praised Rajat Patidar for his commendable performance against England Lions, especially noting his resilience while batting at number 3 in challenging situations. In the opening match, Patidar scored an impressive 111 runs as an opener alongside captain Abhimanyu Easwaran. His innings featured classic cricketing shots and a touch of flamboyance against a decent England Lions side, which somewhat followed the Bazball philosophy. Although the first match ended in a draw after two innings, in the second match in Ahmedabad (the first unofficial Test), Rajat Patidar played a sensational innings, scoring 151 runs while matching England’s aggressive intent. This contributed to India A reaching a total of 553 runs before declaring.
While Patidar’s performance did not entirely bridge the gap to the opponent’s total, it served as a positive sign that the 30-year-old, with considerable experience in domestic cricket, is prepared for international Test matches.
Following his impactful performances of 111 and 151 in the unofficial Tests, Rajat Patidar only managed to score 4 in the second innings, resulting in a draw. However, his earlier knocks had already made a significant impact. With Virat Kohli ruled out of the initial two Tests in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam, the Indian management led by Rahul Dravid informed Patidar that he would be stepping in for his senior RCB teammate.
Despite having alternative options in Sarfaraz Khan and Sai Sudharsan, Dravid and Rohit Sharma opted for Patidar as the most suitable and like-for-like replacement for Virat Kohli. This decision was made with an eye on Kohli’s quest to achieve 9000 Test runs, starting from the 3rd Test in Rajkot, followed by Ranchi and Dharamshala.
Anil Kumble’s forecast that Rajat Patidar would not feature in the starting XI has proven accurate
The iconic Anil Kumble, the sole Indian bowler to achieve 600 wickets in Test cricket, foresaw that despite Rajat Patidar’s commendable performance in unofficial matches, the middle-order specialist Shreyas Iyer would secure a spot ahead of him in the starting lineup.
Kumble acknowledged Patidar’s resilience in stepping up for India A in a challenging situation but asserted that Shreyas Iyer’s wealth of experience surpassed Patidar’s. He predicted that Iyer would take the field at the number 5 position following KL Rahul.
“Undoubtedly, Rajat Patidar has displayed commendable performances over the years. Witnessing a young player making a comeback is truly delightful. In the England Lions’ match, he showcased his skills by scoring a remarkable century when the team was facing adversity. The selectors have recognized his efforts by including him as a replacement. However, I have reservations about whether he will be in the playing XI tomorrow.”
“I believe the team management has made it clear that (KL) Rahul won’t be handling the wicketkeeping duties. In my estimation, Shreyas Iyer will likely be positioned at No. 4, followed by KL Rahul at No. 5, KS Bharat at No. 6, and then the all-rounders. That, in my view, is the intended approach.” – Kumble stated.
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