Dinesh Karthik to Join Squad For 3rd Test in South Africa

The Indian national team selection committee has today announced that Dinesh Karthik (DK) will replace the injured Wriddhiman Saha in the Indian Test squad in South Africa. Saha was also left out from the ongoing 2nd Test match at the Centurion because of his hamstring injury. Parthiv Patel, the backup keeper in the current squad, is doing the glove work in his stead in the 2nd Test!

Saha, who took a record 11 catches in the 1st Test match against South Africa in the ongoing 3 Test match series, injured his upper left hamstring two days before the start of the 2nd Test on Thursday (Jan 11). Karthik is all set to join the Indian squad before the 3rd Test which is to be played at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg starting from January 24.

BCCI statement:

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Dinesh Karthik as the replacement for Wriddhiman Saha for the third and final Test against South Africa. He is set to join the team before the third Test. Mr. Wriddhiman Saha suffered an upper left hamstring tendon injury during training on Thursday, January 11. The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his progress.”

DK made his Test debut in 2004 and last played a Test match for India in the year 2010, against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Karthik has scored 1,000 runs in his 23-Test career having faced exactly 2,000 deliveries. His batting average reads very low (27.77) with the bat!

However, Parthiv Patel has dropped a considerable number of catches against South Africa and also against England in 2016. India might look in the direction of Dinesh Karthik if India lose the 2nd Test. Dinesh Karthik played only one Test match in South Africa in his career, long back in 2007 in Cape Town in which he has scores of 63 in the 1st innings and an unbeaten 38* in the 2nd innings.

Parthiv Patel v Dinesh Karthik, longest running saga in Indian Cricket. They were competing to be India's No.1 Test keeper two years before Dhoni debuted and they're still at it three years after Dhoni retired #SAvIND #dkvspp

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 16, 2018

Murli Vijay & Dinesh Karthik may play together in next test match.. pic.twitter.com/NE2vCyp7Rt

— Aryan (@Rohitswarrior_) January 16, 2018

DK is already picked for the six match ODI series against South Africa and will be present there physically a couple of weeks earlier than planned due to this early call. The 6-match ODI series between South Africa and India will start  on February 01, 2018.

But do India really need to change the wicket keeper for the 3rd Test even if they lose the 2nd Test?! Post your comments below. You can also get more similar content in our Cricket Scoops section!