Indian Batting Coach Vikram Rathour discussed the selection dilemma between Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar for the second Test. Rathour emphasized that the final decision on the playing XI would be made by skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.
After a setback in the series opener against England, where India suffered a 28-run loss, the team faces further challenges with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja ruling out of the second match due to injuries.
Rajat Patidar joined the Indian squad when Virat Kohli opted out of the first two matches for personal reasons. In response to injuries to Rahul and Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Saurabh Kumar were also added to the squad.
Given KL Rahul’s absence in the Vishakhapatnam Test, the choice between Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar becomes crucial for India’s batting lineup. Rahul, batting at No. 4 in the series opener, scored 86 runs but fell while attempting an aggressive shot.
Vikram Rathour Reveals India’s Pick for 2nd Test Selection
During the pre-match press conference, Vikram Rathour highlighted the difficulty in selecting between the two skilled players. He emphasized that the decision lies with skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.
“It will be a tough choice. What value they bring to the team, of course, is that they are super players. We have seen how well they have done in domestic cricket in the last few years. So on these kind of wickets, I think they can really add a lot of value to the team,”
He added: “If you have to pick one, it’s of course going to be tough. But that’s a decision I think Rahul and Rohit Sharma will have to make in a day or so,”
Rajat Patidar has been in fine form for India A, scoring 111, 151, and 4 against England Lions. With 4,000 runs in first-class cricket at an average of over 45, including 22 fifties and 12 centuries, he presents a strong case. On the other hand, Sarfaraz Khan also impressed with scores of 96, 55, 4, and 161 against the England Lions, boasting a stellar first-class record with 3,912 runs at an average of 69.85. The selection dilemma for the second Test is challenging, as both players have compelling performances.
Sarfaraz Khan in his first training session with Indian team. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/vfHzYPhQfH
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 31, 2024
India’s squad for the second Test:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar.
