Team India will play an important Test Series later this year against Australia. Currently sitting at No.1 in the Test Championship table, the Indian team will face a tough challenge against the No.2 team. The squads for this series were announced a couple of weeks ago, and recently, BCCI announced updates regarding the same.
Virat Kohli would only play the first test, while three important players – Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, and Ishant Sharma will be subjected to fitness tests before inclusion to the squad. Although all three are important, Team India would be more concerned about Saha. The best active wicket-keeper in the country, Saha has also been batting well in recent days. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant is struggling for form. In this scenario, Team India needs at least two wicket-keeper options. Hence, if Saha is ruled out, a replacement would be announced. Here are five candidates who could replace Saha if he is unable to participate in the series.
1. KS Bharat
KS Bharat had got his opportunity in the Indian Team a couple of series ago. At that time too, Bharat was in the squad as a backup wicket-keeper. Hence, if Saha gets ruled out, he is the automatic replacement. Although Bharat is not very popular for his batting skills, his glovesmanship has many fans. Also, he is someone similar to Saha in terms of attributes, and hence, he could make the cut.
2. Sheldon Jackson
If Saha has to be replaced, Team India would focus on someone who has expertise in the trade. Although he has been far away from the Indian Team, Sheldon Jackson could be a good option. The Saurashtra cricketer is also in good batting form. Last season, he made 809 runs from 10 Ranji games and was one of the top-scorers in the tournament. He has been doing that for a while, and hence, we think that he must get his chance. With regard to his keeping, just like Saha, Jackson has plenty of experience and confidence behind the stumps.
3. Harvik Desai
Harvik Desai is one cricketer who has a realistic chance of making it to the Indian Team. A part of the U19 World Cup squad in 2018, the Saurashtra boy has shown plenty of potential in the domestic circle. Especially in the Ranji Trophy, Harvik has been special. In the latest season, he scored a total of 597 runs from 11 games at an average of 31. India also needs to plan for life after Saha, and investing in Harvik might be a good option.
4. Parthiv Patel
Well, if Team India wants to play safe, they can go for a like-to-like replacement in the form of Parthiv Patel. The management has taken this decision before, and it may not be a surprise if they repeat it. That said, it’s not a bad decision either. Pant is definitely the starter, but in case if he is horribly out of form, Parthiv can offer experience both in the batting department and with the gloves. Moreover, he has been to Australia before, and that could add flesh to his argument. He could also be an option if India wants a left-hander to open the innings.
5. Ishan Kishan
Despite his breathtaking current form, it would be a big astonishment if Ishan Kishan gets the call-up to the Test squad. Ishan’s keeping skills are yet to be fully tested so far. However, if India’s intention is to strengthen their batting order at the cost of a few wicket-keeping mistakes, Kishan could be an option. That said, it would only be a gamble if Kishan is tried out in the batting order. Yes, he is aggressive and has the skills, but on the pitches of Australia, it’s a different ball-game. Nevertheless, if things do click for the youngster, the squad would be hugely benefited.
