For SA Tests, Dravid's 'KL Rahul' decision was lambasted by the ex-India wicketkeeper
Team India will return to action on December 26 when the side takes on South Africa in the first Test in Centurion. The series will see the return of India's two batting stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as the duo returns to action for the first time since the forgettable World Cup final last month.
On Sunday, in a significant development, India's head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed during the pre-match conference for the first Test in Centurion that KL Rahul would take on the wicket keeping duties.
Former keeper Parthiv Patel, who last played for India during a Test series in South Africa in 2017-18, expressed reservations about Rahul's role as the wicketkeeper in overseas Test series, emphasizing the importance of a player who has been regularly keeping wickets in India's premier domestic long-format competition, the Ranji Trophy, to take on the wicket keeping duties in such challenging conditions.
Patel wrote on his official X account that “India’s test match wicketkeeper should be someone who is keeping regularly in Ranji Trophy or first class cricket... #imho #INDvSA #IndianCricket.”