Former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad named the replacement of KL Rahul for the second Test against England in Vizag. He said that the team should hand a debut to Sarfaraz Khan rather than Rajat Patidar because the former has been scoring runs consistently in domestic cricket.
One of the main headaches that India will be having ahead of the second Test is who to play in place of KL Rahul in Vizag. The batter was ruled out of the game after he felt pain in the right quadriceps and then was declared unfit to take part in the game.
They have Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar to pick from and there have been a lot of speculations about who among them will make the debut. While Rajat was added to the team as Virat Kohli’s replacement, Sarfaraz Khan recently entered the team after KL Rahul was ruled out.
Both Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz have been doing well in the domestic circuit and are among the most consistent batters. Both the batters slammed centuries for India A in the recently concluded series against England A and have been in terrific nick as well.
With all the selection dilemmas over Sarfaraz and Rajat Patidar, MSK Prasad was about to pick one. He admitted that KL Rahul’s absence will be a huge blow because of how he batted in the last game.
MSK Prasad backed Sarfaraz Khan to play as he believes that batter comes ahead in the pecking order because of his consistent domestic run. Speaking to RevSportz about the same, he elaborated:
“India definitely will miss the services of KL Rahul for sure because the way he batted in the first Test match speaks volumes about it. Having said that, it’s a very very tricky situation. See Sarfaraz is someone who has been doing extremely well for so many years. Personally from my point of view, Sarfaraz is doing really well in the domestic cricket and these wickets will suit spinners more and he’s a good batter of the spin.
“Ideally, he should be the first choice. But picking Rajat Patidar ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the earlier stage might turn out to be tricky. But Sarfaraz has been doing well, he’s known for playing U19 World Cup. In terms of pecking order, Sarfaraz is the guy whom they should look at.”
I feel Sarfaraz is one guy who is better against spinners – MSK Prasad
MSK Prasad further noted that Rajat Patidar was picked ahead of Sarfaraz in the squad and there might be chances that the former might be picked. The former BCCI selector also feels that Mumbai batter is a better player of spin and he should play. He explained:
“Rajat Patidar has come ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the squad, obviously he will be the first choice. But if you look at one guy, who has done well in domestic cricket and has scored thousands of runs, Sarfaraz should be the first choice. But selectors might think the other way, it’s their choice and team management’s call.
“Had Sarfaraz Khan been picked ahead of Rajat Patidar in the first Test then he would’ve been the first choice. They also need to see who among them plays spin better. Team management might think Rajat but in a real sense I feel Sarfaraz is one guy who is better against spinners.”
There has been no hint either from the team management who among them will play. It remains to be who among them will get the nod ahead in the second Test.
