Parthiv Patel set to retain his place, Ishant Sharma released for the fourth Test

Virat Kohli’s record of fielding a different playing XI in all the 20 Test matches he has led Team India in could possibly stay intact as the team is in a state of dilemma ahead of the fourth Test of the series in Mumbai. While their first choice opener Lokesh Rahul is still on his way to regain complete fitness for the game, his partner Murali Vijay is also troubled with back spasm. Given the opening troubles Parthiv Patel who made a comeback in the Mohali Test and a remarkable one has been retained in the squad for the next match.

Patel who scored 42 and 67* in both the innings of the game was also at his best behind the wickets. Making his way back into the Test squad after eight long years he was able to translate his first-class form at the highest level and that has certainly helped his case. The way he batted in the second inning made the chase a lot easier and batting through enhanced its importance even further.

It is not just his batting services that the team would want to render his services as a wicketkeeper. Team India’s first choice keeper Wriddhiman Saha hasn’t recovered from the strain in his left thigh wasn’t available for the game in Mohali and is likely to miss the next Test as well.

Indian pacer Ishant Sharma whose services haven’t been required thus far in the series with Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav doing the job quite efficiently has been released from the team. Ishant is all set to tie the nuptial knot with fiancée Pratima Singh on December 9. The dates coincide with the Mumbai Test that starts from December 8 and thus he has been released.

The team management also decided against adding a player to the 14-man squad since the Ranji Trophy is underway and they don’t want to bring in players just for the sake of doing it. “With the Ranji Trophy going on, it was felt that the squad should not be packed with too many players,” a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said.

Indian squad for the fourth Test:

Virat Kohli (C), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar