Pic courtesy: Internet
Rajat Patidar seems poised to maintain his position in the playing XI for the upcoming fifth Test against England set to begin in Dharamsala on Thursday.
Despite his recent struggles with the bat, the Indian Express has learned that the team management intends to support Patidar for the final Test, indicating that Devdutt Padikkal may have to wait for his Test debut. Patidar, who has featured in three Test matches during the series, has had mixed fortunes with scores of 32, 9, 5, 0, 17, and 0. Following India’s victory in the fourth Test in Ranchi, where Patidar’s place came under scrutiny, the team remains inclined to offer him another opportunity to showcase his talent.
The 30-year-old Patidar was drafted into the Test squad as a replacement for Virat Kohli, who opted for a break. Had KL Rahul recovered from his quadricep injury, Patidar might have been released to play for Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha. However, Rahul’s participation in the final Test remains uncertain due to fitness concerns, with the BCCI medical team closely monitoring his progress.
Meanwhile, former RCB and South African captain Ab de Villiers has thrown his support behind Patidar, emphasizing the team’s culture of backing players through challenging times. As the Indian team heads to Chandigarh en route to Dharamsala, Patidar’s future in the side seems to hinge on his performance in the upcoming Test.