KS Bharat to be felicitated in Vizag Stadium ahead of India vs England encounter

Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has said that they will felicitate KS Bharat ahead of the India vs England 2nd Test match in Visakhapatnam. KS Bharat has become only the second player from Andhra Pradesh to play a Test at Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

KS Bharat was part of India vs England 1st Test in Hyderabad. He scored a decent knock of 41 runs in one innings. In the absence of wicketkeepers like Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan in the IND vs ENG Test series, Bharat is the first-choice keeper in the squad.

Notably, KS Bharat is the third player from the Andhra team to play Tests for India. Hanuma Vihari and MSK Prasad are the other two players. The Andhra player made his Test debut for India last year during the IND vs AUS Test series in March 2023. He also played in the WTC 2023 final later.

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KS Bharat to be felicitated in Vizag by ACA

Andhra Pradesh Association secretary Gopinath Reddy told Cricketnext.com that the board has planned a felicitation ceremony for KS Bharat at Vizag Stadium ahead of the IND vs ENG 2nd Test. He informed that the ceremony would take place on Thursday, February 1.

“Yes, we have planned a felicitation ceremony for KS Bharat. It will happen here in the stadium itself on the Upper Floor of the South Stand. We requested a time for 2nd Feb, but the Indian Team management has given time for the 1st, so we will be doing the felicitation on Thursday,” he said.

The ACA secretary also informed that the Cricket Board has invited BCCI secretary Jay Shah, President Roger Binny, and other officials in Vizag Stadium to inaugurate an indoor net.

“We have invited BCCI Secretary Mr Jay Shah ji and the President and Vice president when we all met at Hyderabad recently. We requested their presence here at Vizag and we also hope to lay the foundation stone for an indoor net here. Even though we have not received confirmation, we are hopeful that he will come here,” he added.

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India lost 1st Test by 28 runs

Meanwhile, the India vs England 2nd Test begins Friday, February 2 in Vizag. Earlier, Team India lost the opening Test by 28 runs. India posted 436 in 1st innings and outpast England’s total of 246. However, Ben Stokes & Co. bounced back in the 2nd innings with 420 runs on the board.

Ollie Pope shattered a 196-run knock to demolish Indian bowlers. The hosts failed to chase down a 231-run target in the final innings with England spinner Tom Hartley hunting a 7-wicket haul. India was bowled out for 202 after a fightback by lower-order.

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KS Bharat scored 28 runs off 59 balls in the 2nd innings and showed brilliant efforts with the bat. England leads the five-match series 1-0. The series will observe five games between both teams.