IND vs AUS Test: The BCCI has asked wicketkeeper-batsmen KS Bharat to be ready for Test cap. With Rishabh Pant out of the Australia series due to torn ligament following a car crash, India need a wicketkeeper. Bharat is the 2nd keeper in India squad as he recieved a promotion in expense of Wriddhiman Saha. BCCI has also asked Ishan Kishan to be ready as a backup to KS Bharat for the Australia Test series in February-March. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
In the early hours of December 30, 2022, on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, Rishabh Pant suffered a horrific accident. He barely made it alive. But medical examinations showed that he had torn his ligaments in knee and ankle.
IND vs AUS Test: BCCI sends SOS to KS Bharat, ‘Be ready for Test debut’ against Australia as Rishabh Pant RULED OUT, Ishan Kishan set for maiden Test call-up, Follow LIVE Updates
With Pant set to spend 3-6 months on the sidelines, KS Bharat is the 2nd keeper in Test squad. Ishan Kishan will also get his maiden Test call-up.
KS Bharat is a seasoned domestic cricketer, having played for Andhra Pradesh in the Indian domestic circuit. He is known for his solid glovework and impressive batting abilities. Do you recall the Kanpur Test from 2021? He had very little time to get ready before replacing Wriddhiman Saha in the Test match against New Zealand on the third day. But he produced three wonderful dismissals and kept the wicket admirably.
In a Test match against New Zealand-A, when India was down to 68 for four against a strong attack in difficult circumstances, Bharat’s century partnership with skipper Priyank Panchal helped the team to recover. He also scored an unbeaten 70 when India was down to five wickets in the tour match against Leicestershire back in June 2022 at Leicester.
IND vs AUS Test: BCCI sends SOS to KS Bharat, ‘Be ready for Test debut’ against Australia as Rishabh Pant RULED OUT, Ishan Kishan set for maiden Test call-up, Follow LIVE Updates
For quite some time, Bharat has served as India’s backup wicketkeeper. Additionally, when choosing the India-A team, he is frequently among the first names the selectors write down.
Ishan Kishan has been in good form as well. After receiving a lucky break while Rohit Sharma was out injured, Kishan scored the fastest double hundred in ODI history. Ishan scored 210 runs off just 131 balls. The 24-year-old Kishan became the fourth Indian to score a double century and the seventh batsman overall to achieve the feat.
IND vs AUS Test: KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan who will make Test debut?
- KS Bharat is above Kishan in the pecking order when it comes to Test.
- He has been a deputy to Rishabh Pant after Rahul Dravid informed Wriddhiman Saha that he is not in plans anymore.
- Bharat has scored over 4,500 First Class runs including nine centuries and 25 fifties.
- The Andhra keeper also has more red-ball experience compared to Kishan.
- As for Ishan Kishan, he has also played First Class cricket with flying colours.
- He has scored nearly 3000 runs in First Class cricket including 6 tons.
- Kishan has also led Jharkhand in all three formats in domestic cricket.
Ishan claimed he wasn’t worried about the batting position and was instead focused on the opportunity and wanted to let his batting do the talking. “Batting position I don’t think in this team is certain. Many big players are playing in different positions. It’s all about performance and I can’t complain that I want to bat in this position,” Kishan said.
While both players are yet to make their Test debuts, they will bring in much-needed depth to the batting line-up.
IND vs AUS Test: BCCI sends SOS to KS Bharat, ‘Be ready for Test debut’ against Australia as Rishabh Pant RULED OUT, Ishan Kishan set for maiden Test call-up, Follow LIVE Updates
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