India South Africa Dinesh Karthik
India's Dinesh Karthik has been named as the replacement for injured Wriddhiman Saha on the South Africa tour. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Parthiv Patel could very well see Dinesh Karthik making his way to the playing XI in his place as a report in TOI suggests that Parthiv took the blame for all the gaffes which he committed during the second Test match. Post the series defeat, skipper Virat Kohli had a word with few players and it is learned that Patel accepted his mistake during the meeting.

Team management also called in Dinesh  Karthik to South Africa a week ahead to join Test side too and it is seen a clear way for Karthik to play a Test match after a period of eight years. He last played a Test match way back in 2010 against Bangladesh.

Dinesh Karthik To Replace Parthiv Patel In Third Test: Reports

Post MS Dhoni’s retirement, Wriddhiman Saha was the first-choice keeper and both Parthiv and Karthik were nowhere. In between, Naman Ojha earned a call to England in 2014 (before Dhoni’s retirement) and also to Sri Lanka in 2015 – where he made his Test debut. He was sidelined after Saha’s return and when Saha got injured again in 2016, it was Patel who was recalled.

He grabbed his opportunity then but in South Africa, he faltered and selectors had to call in Karthik. With Indian team all set to fly England, Australia, and New Zealand in next one year, there is no denying that the race to the spot of backup wicketkeeper will be between Karthik, Patel and also Naman Ojha – if he does well in domestic cricket.

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Rishabh Pant, T20, Hundred, Fastest ton, Feroz Shah Kotla, Himachal Pradesh.
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

The likes of Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson are nowhere close to a call-up in this format. Selectors even tried out Kishan and Rishabh in days cricket but both of them failed for India A and also in the Duleep Trophy. Selectors are not looking at Samson as a prospect in the longer format, as it looks.

There is no other option available in the country, hence, all the senior players are the only option left in front of selectors, around whom the selection ring is expected to move for next one year and even beyond that, keeping in mind the number of injuries Saha has suffered since becoming the first-choice wicketkeeper.

Follow India’s tour to South Africa here: South Africa Vs India – Freedom Series

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