It can surely be curtains for Rajat Patidar in the remainder of the IND vs ENG Test series. Star batter KL Rahul is likely to replace Rajat Patidar in the IND vs ENG Ranchi Test. Patidar found his name in the Playing XI of both the Vizag and Rajkot Test. But Patidar has not been good with the bat.
Now if KL Rahul is fit, he automatically gets a chance in the team. Adding more concern for Patidar is the fine knocks played by Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan. The duo made their debuts in the previous game and raked up good runs. Patidar on the other hand has been a disappointment.
In the Vizag Test, he 32 and 9 runs in both the innings. But the patience for the fans broke down in the Rajkot Test. While others continued to hammer big scores, the 30-year-old right hander managed 5 and 0 respectively.
Under such scenario, India will be unwilling to grant another chance in the upcoming Test match to Patidar. In terms of fitness issues, should KL Rahul be fit he will be in India’s Playing XI. Rahul Dravid had previously claimed that KL would be used as a specialist batter in the series.
And with Rajat Patidar not scoring runs, it is only logical that India rely back on KL Rahul provided he is fit. After the first Test in Hyderabad, KL Rahul missed the second Test with a quad injury. In his place Patidar got his chance. Rahul was a part of the squad for the remainder of the series but wasn’t 100% fit to be a part of the third Test in Rajkot.