IND vs ENG: This player got a chance in the test series in place of Virat Kohli, news of joining the team in Hyderabad

The five-Test series between India and England is starting on Thursday (January 25). The first match between the two teams will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Veteran batsman Virat Kohli will not play in the first two matches of the series. He has withdrawn his name due to personal reasons. Now there are reports that Madhya Pradesh batsman Rajat Patidar has been added to the team in his place. BCCI has not made any official announcement regarding this.

Rajat Patidar was seen during the BCCI annual awards ceremony in Hyderabad. It is being said that he has joined Team India. Rajat is a member of the Ranji Trophy-winning team. He bats only at number four. He scored 151 runs in the first unofficial Test for India A against England Lions in Ahmedabad. Earlier, Patidar had scored 111 runs in a two-day practice match against England Lions. 30-year-old Patidar has performed brilliantly in domestic cricket and his statistics are tremendous.

Patidar stayed away from cricket for nine months

Patidar has scored 4000 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 45.97. Rajat has also scored 12 centuries. He played an important role in making Madhya Pradesh Ranji champion. Rajat scored 658 runs in nine innings at an average of 82.25 in the 2021-22 season. He was second among the players who scored the most runs. Rajat also scored a match-winning century in the final against Mumbai. Patidar was out for almost nine months due to a heel injury. He had to undergo surgery. In December last year, Rajat made his ODI debut on the tour of South Africa.

What did BCCI say about Virat?

BCCI had said in its statement, "Virat Kohli has requested BCCI to withdraw from the first two Tests of the upcoming Test series against England, citing personal reasons." Virat has spoken to captain Rohit Sharma, team management, and selectors. He has emphasized that representing the country has always been his top priority, but certain personal situations demand his presence and full attention.

The board further said, “BCCI respects his decision.” The board and team management have extended their support to the star batsman and are confident in the abilities of the rest of the team to deliver commendable performances in the Test series. BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli's privacy during this time and avoid speculating on his reasons.

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