Parthiv Patel made his way back into the Indian Test team after nearly eight years. Wridhiman Saha has been rested for the third test against England in Mohali and Patel was picked in place of him. The third test between India and England will be held at the PCA Stadium in Mohali starting 26 November.
Why has Wridhiman Saha been rested from an important test match ahead?
Wriddhiman Saha has been rested for the third Test after developing a thigh strain during the second game of the series at Visakhapatnam, in order to prevent his injury from aggravating. A statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said: “As a precautionary measure, Saha has been advised to rest and will not play in the next Test match.”
Parthiv Patel looks in the good form, but his inclusion in the team will be a gamble for the selectors, Captain Virat Kohli and the Indian Team.
Patel last played an international game in February 2012 in an ODI against Sri Lanka during the Commonwealth Bank Triangular series. His last Test appearance was also against the same side during India’s tour of the island nation in August 2008.
Prior to the call-up, Patel had been playing for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy, where he had racked up 415 runs at an impressive average of 59.28, including a century and three fifties. In the meantime, Parthiv Patel was only seen in the IPL games in which he also used to change the squads usually every year. But his latest performance in the Ranji games booked his berth into the international Indian squad.
Wriddhiman Saha took over the wicket-keeping duties from MS Dhoni after the latter announced his retirement from the Test cricket format in December 2014. However, the Indians are currently leading the marathon five-Test series 1-0 after winning the second match at Vizag by a big margin of 246 runs.
The remaining matches of the series will be played in Mumbai and Chennai respectively, with England set to play three ODIs and as many T20Is thereafter.’
