टेस्ट शृंखला में साहा कि जगह ले सकते है कार्तिक
Published on: Jul 16, 2018 2:38 pm IST|Updated on: Jul 16, 2018 2:38 pm IST
Published on: Jul 16, 2018 2:38 pm IST|Updated on: Jul 16, 2018 2:38 pm IST
Published on: Jul 16, 2018 1:05 pm IST|Updated on: Jul 16, 2018 1:05 pm IST
KARTHIK LIKELY TO REPLACE
India’s first choice wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha is likely to miss out on the upcoming Test series against England.
Most probably, Dinesh Karthik will replace the Siliguri-born wicketkeeper.
During the Indian Premier League, Saha had injured his thumb and has since then been nursing his injury. Reports suggest that he is not fit and will not make the cut. As a backup, Karthik, who has the experience of playing in English conditions and is present with the team in the UK will make the cut.
Saha was given enough time to get fit before the four-day ‘unofficial’ Test against England Lions from Monday at Worcester or the four-day warm-up match against Essex, which starts on July 25 in Chelmsford.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni has also retired from Test cricket four years back to extend his limited-overs career. With MS not in the squad, Karthik is the most eligible to become the wicketkeeper.
SAHA UNFIT
“Saha’s injury hasn’t healed as per initial plan and to be fair there isn’t a chance that he would be fit for the match when the team takes the field in the first game. Even though he was working on his fitness all this while, he could not keep wickets or bat with the soft plaster on,” a BCCI official said.
“Game time is also something that the current management is looking into and it has been a while since Saha last played any form of cricket. Some of the Test specialists are already in England and will be a part of the unofficial Test against the England Lions and Saha now doesn’t look like he will make it even for the Essex game.”
“In such a circumstance it is only fair that someone like Karthik gets his chance as the player has been with the team and is aware of the conditions on offer. Also, he was the one called in to replace Saha for the Afghanistan Test,” he added.
TEST SERIES BEGINS FROM 1ST AUGUST
Currently, India is playing a three-match ODI series which is 1-1, with the winner to be played at Leeds, Headingley on Tuesday, July 17. The Test series starts on August 1.