Team India have added another member to their World Test Championship final and England Test series squad. The BCCI has roped in Andhra wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat to the squad This happened after Saha tested COVID-negative on the third attempt after testing positive twice. The men and the women’s team members have been assembling in Mumbai for the two-week quarantine before leaving for the UK on June 2. 

A BCCI official has spoken to ANI about the inclusion of Bharat as Saha’s cover. Team India are thus travelling with three wicket-keeper batsmen for their long trip to the UK.

KS Bharat Added To Team India’s WTC Squad

“He was added as cover for Saha considering he was still recovering from the virus and wicket-keeping is a specialised job. If Saha wasn’t fit in time, we would have needed a second keeper in the squad for the tour which is a three-month long one,” quoted a source as speaking to ANI.

The BCCI had previously announced the Indian squad for the WTC final and the subsequent England series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not find a place in the squad. 

His exclusion became a point of discussion as Twitterverse came in support of his red-ball return. There were also reports that Bhuvi is reluctant to play Test cricket in the future to which he has himself answered in the negative. 

“There have been articles about me not wanting to play Test cricket. Just to clarify, I have always prepared myself for all three formats irrespective of the team selection and will continue to do the same. Suggestion – please don’t write your assumptions based on “sources”! wrote Bhuvi in his tweet. 

Team India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance), KS Bharat

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla

Schedule

18th – 22nd June WTC Final vs NZ Southampton

4th – 8th August 1st Test vs England Nottingham

12th – 16th August 2nd Test vs England London (Lord’s)

25th – 29th August 3rd Test vs England Leeds

2nd – 6th September 4th Test vs England London (Oval)

10th – 14th September 5th Test vs England Manchester