IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid hints Ishan Kishan, who is on 'mental health' break, was in line to play Centurion Test

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IND vs SA: India head coach Rahul Dravid has hinted that Ishan Kishan, who pulled out of the 2-Test series against South Africa due to mental fatigue, was in line to play the Boxing Day Test match in Centurion from December 26.

Confirming that KL Rahul would be India's wicket-keeper in the first Test, Rahul Dravid said that the opportunity came up in the absence of Ishan Kishan who opted to take a break on mental health grounds. Dravid said the management discussed with KL Rahul about the role and he expressed a keen interest.

“It’s an exciting challenge and it’s an opportunity for him to certainly do something different. Obviously with Ishan (Kishan) not being available, the opportunity came up. We have a couple of keepers we can choose from. Rahul is certainly one. We have had this discussion with him and he’s very confident. He’s very keen on giving it a go,” Dravid said in a press conference on Sunday.

It has been understood that Ishan Kishan's mental fatigue was not only due to constant travelling with the team throughout the year, but also as there has always been uncertainty about his selection in the eleven. He has got games only in the absence of regulars.

Rahul Dravid expressed confidence in KL Rahul's wicket-keeping abilities, saying that the 31-year-old has been doing the job behind the stumps for the last six months. Dravid also reckoned that not having to do a lot of wicket-keeping against spin bowlers, will help Rahul.

“We do understand that it’s not probably something he has done as often. He’s been doing it regularly in 50-over cricket. So, that’s certainly tough to play 50 overs and then bat the full day. That can take a lot out of your body. He has prepared well. Over the last 5-6 months he has done a lot of keeping, even though it’s in the white ball format. But this will be a new and exciting challenge for him as well,” he added.

“This will be a new and exciting challenge for him. I guess one of the things is there's not going to be that much spin bowling, so that will ease him into the role a little bit, something how it goes and pans out.

“It's really nice to have him for the option he provides us. His ability with the bat will be useful and he has kept in white ball cricket and the question is of transforming that into red ball cricket,” Rahul Dravid said.

This rules out the chance of Srikar Bharat featuring in the match. The Andhra Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter was roped in after Ishan Kishan pulled out of the series. He led India A in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A.