Rajat Patidar set for India Test debut in 2nd Test against England: Reports

Indian middle-order batter Rajat Patidar is likely to make his Test debut in Vizag with India playing the second Test against England at the venue, as per SportsTak. Team India lost the first Test by 28 runs to go down on the WTC points table. The second Test starts on February 2.

India failed to chase 231 in their fourth innings with the England spinners spinning a web around the Indian batters. Heading into the second Test, India will need to make some tactical and some forced changes. 

Rajat Patidar is likely to come in for KL Rahul, who has suffered an injury and been ruled out of the second Test match of the series against England. Also, India could hand a debut cap to Sarfaraz Khan, who has replaced KL Rahul in the squad. Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan can replace KL Rahul and Shubman Gill in the team. Gill has been going through a lean patch and his last four scores in Test cricket are 36. 10, 23, and 0 after the first innings against England. He scored just 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 skipper pulled out of the first two Tests due to personal reasons. He was named in the Indian ODI squad 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 have made a few changes to their squad for the second Test after Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul were ruled out with injury concerns. While Jadeja picked up a hamstring injury, KL Rahul is suffering from a right quadriceps pain and will miss the game. Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Saurabh Kumar were named as replacements. 

“Mr. Ravindra Jadeja and Mr. KL Rahul have been ruled out of the second IDFC First Bank Test against England in Vizag, starting February 02, 2024. Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during play on Day 4 of the first Test in Hyderabad while Rahul complained of a right quadriceps pain. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring the progress of the duo.The Men’s Selection Committee have added Sarfaraz Khan, Sourabh Kumar and Washington Sundar to India’s squad,” read the statement from BCCI.

Rajat Patidar Replaced Virat Kohli In The Side

The MP batter Rajat Patidar has been part of many India A series both at 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 Eliminator 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 debut picked up 7/62 in the second innings after giving away 131 runs in the first innings. The England spinners took 18 wickets in the match as opposed 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 190-run lead in the process. England on the back of 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 loss has taken India fifth on the WTC points table while England are still eighth but gained some crucial points. 

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