Parthiv Patel to remain as India's wicketkeeper for Mumbai Test
After an impressive innings on his Test comeback, Parthiv Patel looks set to continue as India’s wicketkeeper for the fourth Test against England in Mumbai as Wriddhiman Saha hasn’t recovered from his strain on his left thigh. The news will come as a big boost to India, following KL Rahul’s confirmation for the fourth Test after Ishant Sharma was released from the Test squad.
Chairman of Selectors, MSK Prasad revealed that Wriddhiman Saha remains the first-choice keeper for India in Tests but his failure to recover from his injury for which he has been advised more rest, means that Parthiv, who was chosen ahead of Rishabh Pant, will continue to deputise behind the stumps for India.
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Coming in for his first Test in eight years, the 31-year-old keeper had a brilliant start to his second-coming in Tests as he scored 42 in the first innings before finishing with an unbeaten 67, which was his first Test fifty in 12 years, and also scored the winning runs in the third Test which India won to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match Test series against England.
UPDATE - @parthiv9 to continue to be part of Indian team for the 4th @Paytm #INDvENG Test pic.twitter.com/yujcCavqWP
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2016
KL Rahul fit, Parthiv to play in middle-order
Another major concern for India, especially with the fact that they have no back-up opener in the squad, is the fitness of opener KL Rahul. Although he was released from the squad to go see a specialist, Indian fans got some great news as he was declared fit for the fourth Test in Mumbai.
Extra Cover: Why India had no back-up opener in the squad for the third Test at Mohali
While the fact that Parthiv did a brilliant job as a make-shift opener meant that India didn’t have to worry as much about the fitness of KL Rahul, the fact that Murali Vijay is also battling with back spasms is something that will make Indian fans everywhere anxious.
The doubt over Rahul’s fitness even made some wonder if there might be a surprise recall for Gautam Gambhir once again. But with Vijay and Rahul opening the innings for India in the Mumbai Test, the 31-year-old keeper will slot into the middle-order with Karun Nair, who made his debut in Mohali, to make way in the starting XI.
Ishant Sharma, whose wedding coincides with the fourth Test, has been released from the squad and the selectors have opted against adding further players and keep it a 14-man squad for the fourth Test against England in Mumbai with just three seamers in the squad and no back-up opener.
"With the Ranji Trophy going on, it was felt that the squad should not be packed with too many players," a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said.
India squad for Fourth Test: Virat Kohli (C), Parthiv Patel (WK), Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Watch: KL Rahul speaks about Sportkeeda App
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