India wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan is reported to have left the South Africa Test series due to mental fatigue. In the ongoing all-format series, he was rested for the white-ball games. Kishan was meant to play in the team as the wicketkeeper batter. However, on December 17, the left-hander pulled out of the series due to ‘personal reasons’.
“Ishan Kishan has requested the Indian Cricket Board to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicketkeeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad. The men’s selection committee has named KS Bharat as a replacement,” Board secretary Jay Shah stated in its press release.
As per fresh reports, the former India U19 skipper has pulled out due to mental fatigue. It is caused due to constant travel in Ishan’s case.
“He informed the team management that he is having mental fatigue and wants a break from cricket for some time. Everyone agreed to it,” a source confirmed to The Indian Express.
KL Rahul to keep wickets in place of Ishan Kishan
Meanwhile, Rahul, who led the team during the three-match ODI series, is set to keep wickets for the first time in the longest format of the game. Going by the team combination and form (or the lack of it in the case of KS Bharat), Rahul will be the contender to keep wickets in the two-match Test series. The Men In Blue are looking to win their maiden Test series in the rainbow nation.
India’s squad for Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)
| Tuesday | 26-Dec-23 to 30-Dec-23 | 1st Test | Centurion |
| Wednesday | 03-Jan-24 to 07-Jan-24 | 2nd Test | Cape Town |
