Despite Virat Kohli’s absence from the first two matches of the five-match series, India was not compelled to give a batter his debut in the first Test against England in Hyderabad, as the hosts chose to play a specialist wicketkeeper in KS Bharat instead. In South Africa, KL Rahul kept wickets. In Hyderabad, KL Rahul was promoted to bat at No. 4, replacing Kohli, while Bharat took No. 6. However, with Rahul unwell and out of the second Test in Visakhapatnam, India would be compelled to play a rookie, either Sarfaraz Khan or Rajat Patidar.
Rahul is out owing to soreness in his right quadriceps, therefore either Patidar, who replaced Kohli in the team, or Sarfaraz, who has received his first India call-up, will most likely play in the second Test as India looks to rebound from a 28-run setback in Hyderabad.
The million-dollar question is, who will get to make his debut?
Kohli is set to return for the third Test, and Patidar and Sarfaraz have one final chance to make an impression in Test cricket unless India has another injury scare in the future.
Rajat Patidar, a 30-year-old Madhya Pradesh hitter, has previously played one ODI for India in South Africa in December 2023. Many believe he is ready to make his Test debut, particularly after scoring 111 and 151 runs for India A against the England Lions. However, Sarfaraz has a solid chance of beating him for the one middle-order spot.
On a spinning track, India may choose Sarfaraz over Patidar, given the Mumbai batter’s stronger numbers in first-class cricket on Indian pitches.
Sarfaraz has 3912 runs at an average of 69.85 from 45 first-class matches, including 14 hundreds and 11 fifties. His highest score is 301 not out. Patidar, meanwhile, has 4000 runs in 55 matches at an average of 45.97, with 12 tonnes and 22 fifties. His greatest score is 196. Sarfaraz’s statistics show that he has a penchant of hitting huge shots on Indian pitches.
He also recently scored 161 against the England Lions in a four-day encounter, earning Player of the Match honours.
However, Patidar has one advantage: he has prior IPL experience. Despite his lack of international experience, the MP hitter has demonstrated the maturity and temperament required for the highest level of competition. Sarfaraz has failed to shine in the IPL and has mostly fallen prey to pace and bounce in the T20 tournament.
