India vs Australia: KS Bharat impresses with lightening-quick stumping, smart DRS call

Add as a preferred source on Google

KS Bharat on Thursday justified his selection to the playing XI against Australia in the opening Test match of the Border-Gavaskar series with his glovework doing all the talking for him on his Test debut.

Bharat was influential on the day as he affected the stumping of a set Marnus Labuschagne, who threatened to put Australia at the front on Day 1 as he was building up a big stand with Steve Smith as the duo added 82 runs for the third wicket.

The Test World No. 1 batter was stumped in the 36th over of the Australian innings when Jadeja shocked Labuschagne, batting on 49, with a slower delivery after bowling at a quick pace consistently. The ball turned away from the batter for Labuschagne to miss while Bharat was quick to catch him off the crease and dislodged the bails.

His efforts were appreciated by fans on social media as early on his intervention in Usman Khawaja review call led to the opener's dismissal. The incident happened in the second over of the game when Khawaja was hit on the pad by Mohammed Siraj, whose lbw appeal was turned down by the umpire.

Skipper Rohit Sharma seemed reluctant to take a review but Bharat seemed confident of a positive outcome and talked the captain into taking the appeal. The result came out in India's favour.

India vs Australia: KS Bharat's smart DRS calls

Leading to the India vs Australia Test series, many fans and experts alike suggested that in-form southpaw Ishan Kishan should be part of the playing XI while the former hasn't made enough noise in build up to the much-anticipated series.

KS Bharat has been an understudy to Rishabh Pant for over a year now after Wriddhiman Saha was phased out from the Indian team. Post Pant's car accident, Bharat was seen as the natural choice for the wicket-keeping slot but Ishan Kishan's white-ball exploits, including a double hundred against Bangladesh, led to calls for his selection in the Test team.