5 reasons why Parthiv Patel should not have been dropped from the Test team

#3 A third option for an opening batsman

Parthiv Patel would have been a brilliant choice for the third opener

There is no wonder that Abhinav Mukund has had a terrific Ranji Trophy with Tamil Nadu, having led his team to the semis and having scored 854 runs at an impressive average of 65.30 for which he has been rewarded with his call-up to the Test team. However, having seen Parthiv Patel’s performances as an opener in both First-Class and Test cricket, there is every reason why Patel should have been considered as a choice for a third opener.

Patel’s primary role is that of a wicket-keeper batsman but he has done exceptionally well opening the innings as well. In fact, most of his Test half-centuries has come when he has opened the batting. Even during the England series, Patel opened the batting in all of his four innings and ended up getting scores of 42, 15, 67, and 71.

Mukund has also played all of his five Test matches as an opener but he has scored only 211 runs at a meagre average of 21.10 with only one half-century to his name. Hence, Patel would have been a much better option for a third opener and there’s no denying that he would have done really well in case either of Murali Vijay or KL Rahul sustained any injury prior to the Test.