Revealed: Why Dinesh Karthik and not Parthiv Patel kept wickets on Day 4

India, who were under a lot of pressure to perform, put up a brilliant bowling performance in the final session of today’s play to bundle out South Africa for 177 in the second innings and won the third Test by 63 runs. Ishant Sharma started the initial onslaught which was perfectly ended by Mohammed Shami who cleaned up the tail quickly.

Shami ended the match with the figures of 5/28. Apart from Ishant (2/31), Shami was also aided by Jasprit Bumrah (2/57) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/29). An all-pace attack did wonders for the visitors who lost the series 1-2. India won on a tricky Wanderers pitch and the critics were left eating humble pies.

Karthik ahead of Patel

However, there was a surprise for the fans in the last session of the fourth day, with Dinesh Karthik donning the wicketkeeping gloves instead of the regular keeper in this series, Parthiv Patel. According to new ICC rules, a substitute keeper will be allowed to keep wickets if the main gloveman gets injured. Karthik became the first Indian player to be used as a replacement keeper from out of the playing XI.

Karthik, who had not played a Test since 2010, was recalled to the Test side after Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out with an injury. But his role was restricted to carrying drinks only. Parthiv Patel’s team in the place was questioned for his poor wicketkeeping in both the first games.

However, Karthik, though not as a member of the squad, got to keep wickets on the final day of the Test. This was because Patel had injured his finger before the game. For Karthik, apart from India’s win in the Test, there was another reason to celebrate today as he was picked by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL auctions for a whopping 7.4 crore.

Limited overs series to follow

The Test series will be followed by a limited-overs series consisting of six ODIs and three T20Is. The first ODI begins on Thursday.