After India lost their first Test against England on the grounds of Hyderabad they suffered another blow in the face of injuries to key players Ravindra Jadeja & KL Rahul. Both the batters will miss the second Test against England in Vishakhapatnam. While Virat Kohli will be unavailable for the Test. In their absence, the team management is thinking of including Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan in India’s lineup for the second Test.
How did Jadeja & Rahul sustain injuries?
Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during Day 4 of the IND vs ENG 1st Test while Rahul complained of pain in his right quadriceps. Losing two key players ahead of a crucial Test means Indian team management had to build a strong strategy to get back into the groove.
They found a way after naming the prolific player of India’s domestic cricket, Sarfaraz Khan in the lineup. They have also named Saurabh Kumar in the lineup to balance the lineup. But India also has Rajat Patidar in the squad who can get a green signal for the second Test against England.
While India could include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI as Jadeja’s bowling replacement. The team management will hand a Test debut to either Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan to compensate for Rahul’s absence and fill the middle-order gap.
Coming to Patidar he boasts a stellar record in first-class cricket after featuring in 55 first-class fixtures & scoring 4000 runs at an average of 45.97. With 12 tons & 22 fifties, he is one of the best candidates to perform under pressure. He has further impressed one & all during the IPL 2023 where his scores of 111 and 151 against the England Lions add weight to his case for selection.
Sarfaraz Khan or Rajat Patidar who is the front-runner for Test Debut?
Coming to Sarfaraz even his first-class records are more than impressive. Acors 45 matches he has amassed a total of 312 runs at a remarkable average of 69.85, featuring 14 centuries and 11 half-centuries. His unbeaten score of 301 stands as a testament to his batting prowess.
Patidar has been consistent in the long run & has scored 111,151,& 4 in matches against England Lions. On the other hand, Sarfaraz too has returned with figures of 96, 55, 4, and 161 against England A. Both the players are marvelous against spin & in that aspect, it’s difficult to differentiate between their capabilities. During the previous South Africa tour, Patidar managed 33 runs in his sole red-ball appearance and also made his ODI debut for the Indian team. In contrast, Sarfaraz scored 34 and 68 in the two first-class matches he participated in. They both are perfect & almost ready to make their Test debut for the Indian team.
Patidar or Sarfaraz who plays with resilience & can build strong stands?
When it comes to stitching long stands & scoring consistently both the players excel in this criteria. Sarfaraz can play long innings & his brilliant performances on the field make him a strong contender for the maiden Test call-up. In crunch situations while playing for Ranji he has often outclassed Mumbai with his bat.
Both the players are strong contenders to make their Test debut considering injuries to the key players. Patidar comes in as a replacement for Kohli. Sarfaraz earned his maiden Test call-up solely due to his run-scoring ability.
Rajat Patidar vs Sarfaraz Khan who is an ideal choice?
The decision to choose any one of them will depend on the pitch & team’s composition. If India plays on a spin track, Sarfaraz’s stats on India’s spin-friendly pitches will give them an edge. However, Patidar’s experience in high-pressure situations like the IPL and his recent performances for India A could work in his favor.
Both the players have exceptional first-class records & are equally deserving of inclusion to the Test team. However, the final decision of their inclusion will depend on the team’s strategy & management.
IND vs ENG 2024: India’s Test Squad
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, Sourabh Kumar
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