Selectors ask Dinesh Karthik to replace Wriddhiman Saha ahead of 3rd Test, here’s why

Team India is already trailing 0-1 in the Test series against South Africa as they lost the first Test at Centurion by 72 runs

By: Ankit Banerjee |
January 16, 2018 12:30 pm

The All-India Senior Selection Committee confirmed that Dinesh Karthik is set to replace Wriddhiman Saha for the third and final Test against South Africa. He is set to join the team before the third Test. 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. Dinesh Karthik is going to make a comeback to the national Test side after a gap of eight years. Karthik last played a Test for India way back in 2010 against Bangladesh.

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The Tamil Nadu batsman has been around for a long time and though he has not played for the national side in whites for a while, he has been getting a lot of runs for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket. That is the biggest reason behind his selection, apart from the fact that he has the experience of playing in South Africa. He toured South Africa in 2007 and played a Test at Cape Town.

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Karthik’s ability to pinch singles without getting bogged down is probably the cocktail Virat Kohli is looking for from his wicketkeeper, hence, he has been selected instead of Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson or Naman Ojha.

NEWS: Dinesh Karthik to replace injured Wriddhiman Saha. He is set to join the team before the third Test.

More details here – https://t.co/22TiSsJxeo #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/v3glKaJ0BS

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 16, 2018

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Dinesh Karthik will replace Wriddhiman Saha for the third Test against South Africa. Saha suffered an upper left hamstring tendon injury during training . The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his progress. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/7l9taJRajd

— BCCI Men (@BCCI_Men) January 16, 2018

So with Karthik flying out to South Africa, it should put an end to any discussion on the extent, and in the eyes of some the truthfulness, of Saha’s injury.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 16, 2018

So, both Indian wicket keepers in South Africa would have begun their international careers before Dhoni……

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 16, 2018

#SAvIND BCCI Selectors name Dinesh Karthik for injured Saha for 3rd Test. Decision hours after Parthiv’s ridiculous drop off Elgar, says a lot. Not attempting a catch is unforgivable & pointing towards distant first slip was uncalled for. Perhaps Parthiv has played his last Test?

— Sundar Iyer (@sportsundar) January 16, 2018

Meanwhile, Team India is already trailing 0-1 in the Test series against South Africa. India lost the first Test at Centurion by 72 runs.