Ind vs Eng: Here's Who Will Solve India's Wicket-Keeper Crisis After Pant, Saha Turn Covid Positive

Both Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant, who are currently in isolation, will be available for the Indian team by the first Test, but will not be able to play in the practice match.

Photo: AFP

The five-match Test series between India and England is scheduled to begin from August 4, before which Virat Kohli & Co. will play a three-day practice match against England's County XI in Durham. Wicket-keeper batsmen Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha will not be able to participate in the three-day practice match.

The troubles of Team India touring England seems to be increasing after Rishabh Pant tested Covid-19 positive. Apart from Pant, training assistant and net bowler Dayanand Garani also tested Covid-19 positive.

The BCCI medical team identified bowling coach B. Arun, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran as three personnels who came in contact with Garani, after which all three have been kept in isolation.

Both Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant, currently in isolation, will be available for India vs England first Test, but will not be able to play in the Ind vs Eng County XI practice match. In absence of Pant and Saha, KL Rahul will be picked as the wicket-keeper batsman in India vs England County XI practice match.

However, the main focus of the team management will be on Mayank Agarwal as he is most likely to open with Rohit Sharma in the first Test and practice game after injured Shubman Gill got ruled out of the series. Mayank has not been in good batting form ever since the tour of Australia. The star batsman was dropped from the playing XI after Rohit's arrival in Australia.

Rahul has also scored most of his 2000 runs in Test career while opening the innings. If one of team India's experienced batsmen, most probably Ajinkya Rahane, fails to find the rhythm in practice game, then KL Rahul might be used as a middle-order batsman during Ind vs Eng Test series.