In the lead-up to the final Test match of the series between India and England held in Dharamshala, a significant update emerged from the Indian camp. Team India's captain Rohit Sharma announced the playing XI during the toss, which notably excluded Rajat Patidar. This decision sparked inquiries among fans and commentators alike. However, before any speculation could intensify, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with captain Rohit clarified the situation with a crucial update on Patidar's status.
The BCCI revealed that Rajat Patidar was ruled out of the Dharamshala Test match due to an ankle injury sustained during a net session. On the morning of the match, Patidar experienced swelling in his left ankle, which ultimately led to his exclusion from the playing eleven.
"Rajat Patidar got hit on his left ankle during Team India's practice session on 6th March, 2024. He pulled up sore on the morning of the game and was not available for selection for the 5th Test," the BCCI said in a tweet on X.
At the toss, skipper Rohit also confirmed that Patidar suffered an injury on the eve of the Dharamsala Test.
Patidar was dismissed twice in the nets
Additionally, an incident during India's net session, where fast bowler Aakash Deep dismissed Patidar twice, raised questions about his form. Batting coach Vikram Rathour offered Patidar the option to continue facing fast bowlers or switch to throwdowns. Patidar chose to persist with his batting practice, a decision followed by the unfortunate injury that sidelined him from the match.
Patidar makes a meal of six opportunities
Before this series against England, Virat Kohli had withdrawn his name, leading to Patidar's inclusion in the team and his subsequent Test debut in the second match of the series. However, Patidar struggled to make a significant impact with the bat across three Test matches, scoring only once above 30 and being dismissed for zero on two occasions. Despite a challenging start to his Test career, with just 63 runs from six innings, team management had expressed faith in Patidar's capabilities.
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