India vs South Africa: Srikar Bharat Replaces Ishan Kishan As Wicketkeeper In Test Squad

Wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat has been named as the replacement for Ishan Kishan in the Indian Test squad that will face South Africa in a two-match series, starting from December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Kishan, who did not feature in the T20Is earlier this month, had requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be released from the Test squad due to personal reasons.

KS Bharat replaces Ishan Kishan in India Test squad vs South Africa

BCCI on Sunday (December 17) withdrew the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter and replaced him with Andhra's Bharat, who was the first choice wicketkeeper earlier this year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the World Test Championship final.

The 30-year-old was unused in the two-match series in the Caribbean in July, and subsequently dropped for the tour to South Africa initially before finding a spot after Kishan's withdrawal.

"Mr Ishan Kishan has requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicket-keeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad. The Men's Selection Committee has named Mr KS Bharat as a replacement," BCCI said in a release.

Although he is added in the squad, KL Rahul, who is donning the gloves in the ODI series is likely to continue keeping wickets even in the Test series, leaving Bharat as a backup option.

In his 5 Test appearances so far, Bharat has scored just 129 runs in 8 innings with the best of 44. Behind the stumps, he has executed 1 stumping and taken 12 catches in 10 innings.

Ishan has played two Tests for India, scoring 78 runs in three innings at an average of 78.00, with best score of 52*. With the golves, Kishan has taken 5 catches.

Earlier, pacer Mohammed Shami, who was named in the squad subject to clearing his fitness, was not cleared by the BCCI Medical Team and the fast bowler was ruled out of the two Tests.

India Test squad vs South Africa

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vice captain), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wicketkeeper).