The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out of the historic Test against Afghanistan that is scheduled to be played in Bengaluru, starting June 14.
Dinesh Karthik — who last played in the longest format of the game against Bangladesh in 2010 — has been called in as a replacement for injured Saha.
“Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out of the one-off Test against Afghanistan to be held in Bengaluru from the 14th of June, 2018. Saha suffered an injury to his right thumb while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL Qualifier 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders on 25th May 2018 at the Eden Gardens,” the BCCI statement read.
“He was under observation by the medical staff of the BCCI and the management has decided to give him adequate rest before the start of the England Test series. Saha’s recovery period is expected to be around five to six weeks,” the statement added.
Karthik has only played 23 Tests for India till date, in which he has scored 1000 runs, including one century and seven half-centuries. However, it must be mentioned that Karthik was a surprise success when he played Test cricket in England in 2007, where he slammed three half-centuries — 60 at Lord’s, 77 at Nottingham and 91 at the Oval.
Karthik has gone from strength to strength since returning to the Indian set-up last year. The swashbuckling wicket-keeper’s last-over heroics in the Nidahas Trophy final helped India clinch the trophy against Bangladesh in March.
