Parthiv Patel recalled to Tests after 8 years

Mohali: Indian wicket keeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has been recalled to the Indian Test squad after a long gap of eight years. He would be replacing injured Wriddhiman Saha in the third Test against England at Mohali.

Saha, who has become a permanent part of India's Test squad since MS Dhoni's retirement from the longest format of the game, sustained a strain in his left thigh during the second Test against England at Visakhapatnam.

Indian team's medical team has advised rest to Saha as a precautionary measure.

Patel last played for India in Tests in 2008 against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batsman has been away from international Cricket since 2011, when he played a T20I against England.

The 31-year-old southpaw has represented India in 20 Tests accumulating 683 runs at an average of 26.69 with four fifties.

Parthiv has been preferred over all other options by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) apparently due to a wonderful start of 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, where he, representing Gujarat, has scored 415 runs at an average of 59.28 with three fifty+ scores and a ton.

The reports also suggest that Patel has won the recall only because the young Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant wouldn't logistically be able to reach Mohali from Wayanand, where he is currently playing a Ranji Trophy match, before November 25^thevening after completing the match on 24^th.

Pant, who has accumulated maximum number of runs in the Ranji Trophy with 874 runs, would have to travel to either Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram via road from Wayanad, and then take two consecutive flights, first to Delhi and then a connecting flight to Chandigarh, in order to reach Mohali.

The BCCI on Tuesday announced the 16-man squad for the remaining three Tests against Alastair Cook-led England team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has regained fitness, has been brought back into the squad in place of senior opening batsman Gautam Gambhir.

The Mohali Test would begin on November 26, while India lead the five-Test series 1-0.