Rajat Patidar set to fill Virat Kohli's shoes for initial two Tests in India's lineup versus England

Rajat Patidar replaces Virat Kohli in India's Test squad against England, signaling a transition in the team's approach. With selectors favoring youth over experienced players like Pujara and Rahane, the Indian middle-order faces a significant challenge in the absence of key players. Rinku Singh is also added to the squad for the second game.

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In a significant development for the Indian cricket team, Rajat Patidar, the emerging talent from Madhya Pradesh, is set to replace Virat Kohli for the first two Tests against England, beginning on January 25 in Hyderabad. Having marked his ODI debut last month in South Africa, Patidar's recent impressive performance, including consecutive centuries for India A against England Lions, solidified his selection.

The announcement, reported by Cricbuzz, was made during the BCCI's NAMAN awards in Hyderabad, where Patidar was present alongside the rest of the squad. His exceptional knocks of 151 and 111 against the England Lions made him the frontrunner for the crucial role in Kohli's absence. This decision further delays Sarfaraz Khan's anticipated Test debut, despite his consistent performance in first-class cricket since 2020.

The selectors' preference for Patidar also signals a strategic shift, indicating a move away from relying on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. The team seems to be embracing a transition phase, providing opportunities to younger talents.

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However, despite his selection, Patidar is unlikely to receive a Test cap in the series opener, with KL Rahul expected to fill Kohli's position at No.4 and Shreyas Iyer at No.5. Specialist wicketkeeper KS Bharat is slated for No.6, followed by three spinning all-rounders. The absence of key players, including Kohli, Pujara, and Rahane, puts the Indian middle-order to the test, especially after a challenging South Africa tour for the team's batters.

In related news, Rinku Singh, initially part of the India A squad for the third four-day game against England Lions, has been added to the side for the second game as well. The selected squad for the first two matches against England includes Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), and Avesh Khan.