Rajat Patidar, the 30-year-old batter from Madhya Pradesh, has been included in the India squad for the initial two Tests against England. This decision comes after Virat Kohli opted out of the first two Tests due to personal reasons.
Former India captain, Kohli, has pulled out from the first two tests, citing personal reasons.
The Delhi-born batter last featured for India in the red-ball format against South Africa. Kohli ended the three-match series as India's leading run-scorer, with 172 runs in 4 innings. Kohli would be a big miss for hosts India against England.
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How have Rajat Patidar performed in the recent past?
Patidar soared to limelight by scoring 151 against England Lions in Ahmedabad last week, following it up with another impressive knock of 111 in a warm-up fixture against the Lions. His recent performances, coupled with his previous tour to South Africa with the A side late last year, contributed to his selection.
Despite making his international debut in an ODI against South Africa in December, where he opened the innings, Patidar is expected to play in the middle-order during the Test series against England.
The inclusion of Patidar implies that the team management is not considering Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for the moment.
What is Rajat Patidar's record in Tests?
Patidar is yet to make his Test debut.
Why is Kohli unavailable for first two tests against England?
The BCCI revealed the news via a press release on Monday, that the 35-year-old batter would miss the first two tests against England in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The statement read: "Mr. Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming IDFC First Bank Test series against England, citing personal reasons.
"Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention. The BCCI respects his decision and the Board and team management has extended its support to the star batter and is confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series.
"The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli's privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons. The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series."
While the news of Kohli missing the first matches was informed, BCCI did not reveal a specific reason why the veteran batter has pulled out of the matches.
MORE: Who will replace Kohli in the Indian squad?
What is Virat Kohli's record in Tests?
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | 191 | 8848 | 49.15 | 55.56 | 30 | 29 | 254* |
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