A BCCI source has confirmed India’s first choice keeper in Tests and who would start proceedings in England.
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Wriddhiman Saha was injured and missed out on the one-off test between India and Afghanistan. However his performances have not been up to the mark with the bat. Notwithstanding the fact that he is a brilliant keeper, Dinesh Karthik has been stellar in the IPL.
It was very unfortunate that Karthik got run out in the test match against Afghanistan but he presents a very strong case for selection on the UK tour. The Tamil Nadu keeper-batsman has a good enough technique and has improved his keeping by leaps and bounds.
Karthik can be instrumental for the balance of the side. The team management can then think of dropping Hardik Pandya and playing with 5 complete bowlers as Dinesh Karthik will then serve as the sixth batsman.
Also Read: Is the Yo-Yo Test valid?
However, Indian Express reports that a BCCI source has now stated that Saha remains India’s first choice keeper despite Karthik’s heroics. “His (Saha’s) day-to-day progress is monitored at the NCA. His treatment, diet; everything. He is the team management’s first-choice ‘keeper,” said the source.
The Yo-Yo mystery
Amid the furor surrounding the Yo-Yo Test, BCCI GM Saba Karim has also confirmed that the tests are always conducted before the selection of the squad. However, this time due to the IPL, the same could not be done which is why players like Ambati Rayudu and Mohammed Shami failed the test after selection.
“It’s (Yo-Yo test) always conducted before team selection. This time the change happened because of the IPL. We have to pick the teams early because of the logistical reasons, so we couldn’t drag out players during the IPL and made them go through fitness tests. That’s why we conducted it after the IPL was over. And all the players were given enough time to prepare for that,” Karim concluded.
