IND vs ENG, Test Series: Rajat Patidar replaces Virat Kohli for first two tests, while Pak-origin spinner Shoaib Bashir set to join English team after VISA dispute

New Delhi: India and England have kicked off the Arthur De Mello trophy, with the start of the first test match in Hyderabad from Thursday.

However, a number of changes are taking place in teams playing XI after earlier disputes over different issues.

It’s about time 🙌

Test number 1️⃣ to get underway 🔜

⏰ 9:30 AM IST
💻📱 https://t.co/Z3MPyeKtDz#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/LW8dvdaAWs

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2024

While BCCI has finally revealed the name of Virat Kohli’s replacement for the first two test matches, after the Indian batting legend decided to withdraw his name for personal reasons, ECB has thanked the Indian government for solving the visa issue for one of their players.

Rajat Patidar set to replace Virat Kohli

India has called up Rajat Patidar to the squad after Virat Kohli missed the first two Test matches due to injury.

The middle-order batsman attended the BCCI Annual Awards on Tuesday night and has already joined the Indian team in Hyderabad.

Following Kohli’s request for a personal leave of absence from the first two Test matches, everyone was waiting to see who the selection committee would choose to replace him.

🚨 Toss Update 🚨

England win the toss in Hyderabad and elect to bat in the 1st #INDvENG Test.

Fast bowler Avesh Khan has been released to play for his Ranji trophy team, Madhya Pradesh for their next Ranji Trophy fixture.

Rajat Patidar has joined the team as Virat Kohli’s… pic.twitter.com/g9TfcLZZvs

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2024

It’s reported that selectors and Indian team management unanimously decided on Patidar, who made his comeback after missing almost eight months due to injury.

Notable for his aggressiveness, the Madhya Pradesh batter is accustomed to batting at number four. He projects an aggressive demeanour when facing bowlers right away in the domestic batting circuit.

Shoaib Bashir’s VISA issue resolved

India vs England test series was surrounded by controversy even before the first match, as Shoaib Bashir, the Pakistani-origin English spinner, was denied a VISA by the Indian immigration bureau.

ECB requested the Indian government to treat their citizen fairy without any bias, and luckily, the issue was resolved before turning into an ugly controversy, and the 20-year-old spinner is all set to join the English team in the coming weekend.

ECB also posted the update over Shoaib Bashir’s controversy on their X (Formerly known as Twitter) page.

Shoaib Bashir’s visa has been approved, but needs to be stamped into his passport at the Indian High Commission in the UK. (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/oAwpTN2VxG

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 24, 2024