'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The fiery Rishabh Pant in place of a woefully out of form Dinesh Karthik
Things were finally looking up for Dinesh Karthik. His superhuman efforts in the Nidahas Trophy finals followed by a fairly successful campaign as skipper and batsmen for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, 2018, meant that when Wridhiman Saha was ruled out of the test series against England, Dinesh Karthik became the first choice as wicket-keeper to face England.
Dinesh Karthik has been on the sidelines when MS Dhoni was the wicket-keeper in test matches, but this series was the perfect opportunity for him to cement his place in the test team. Sadly, nothing of that sort has happened. The wicketkeeper from Tamil Nadu has had a campaign on the lines of his state-mate Murali Vijay.
His wicket-keeping hasn’t been too flashy and he has looked too fidgety and has been found wanting in helpful conditions for the bowlers. People would remember DK in this test series only for the light-hearted banter he shared with R Ashwin in their native tongue Tamil during the first test match.
Looking to get back in the test series, India should most definitely go in with Rishabh Pant. The dynamic, fiery left-hander has been given Rahul Dravid’s approval as well. Playing for India A against England Lions, Pant impressed as a batsman and wicket-keeper.
More than infusing a fresh lease of life into this side, Rishabh Pant can considerably strengthen the middle-order for India if he gets going. So far only Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have shown some fight in the middle order-something that has got to change if India want to get back into this series.
