IND vs ENG: Pujara ignored, Rajat Patidar joins India squad as replacement for Virat Kohli ahead of 1st Test

Add as a preferred source on Google

IND vs ENG: Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar has joined the Indian squad in place of Virat Kohli ahead of the 1st Test against England in Hyderabad starting January 25.

Patidar was also present with the team at the annual BCCI Awards on Tuesday, January 23. Batting at number three for India A, Patidar recently scored 111 runs against England in a tour game before smashing 151 runs in the first innings against England Lions in the first Unofficial Test.

Virat Kohli pulled out of the first Test due to personal reasons. The BCCI confirmed the development on Monday, January 2022. Virat Kohli had also missed the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali due to personal commitments.

Patidar was also part of the India A squad which toured South Africa. He scored 33 runs in the only innings he got to bat. Overall, Rajat Patidar has scored 4000 first-class runs at an average of 45.97 in 55 matches. He has hit 12 hundreds and 22 fifties in the red-ball format.

Abhimanyu Easwaran replaced injured Ruturaj Gaikwad but did not get the nod of the selectors this time. He is currently leading India A squad against England Lions. The Bengal batter has failed to score on the big occasions in Ranji Trophy. He is yet to fire against the England Lions.

Patidar's inclusion also means that selectors are looking beyond Cheteshwar Pujara who kicked off his Ranji Trophy 2023-24 campaign with a double hundred, and is the leading run-scorer in the tournament currently.

Rajat Patidar has the experience of batting at number four in domestic cricket and has the reputation of playing assertive cricket from ball one.