Dinesh Karthik recalled as Saha replacement

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out of the historic India v Afghanistan Test with a thumb injury, with Dinesh Karthik called up as his replacement for the match, to be played in Bangalore from 14 June.

Saha was injured during the Sunrisers Hyderabad Qualifier victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The India Test stalwart was struck by a bouncer and missed the final which the Sunrisers lost to the Chennai Super Kings.

BCCI Acting Honorary Secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a press release: “He was under observation by the medical staff of the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] and the management has decided to give him adequate rest before the start of the England Test series. Saha’s recovery period is expected to be around five to six weeks.”

If everything goes according to plan Saha should be fit to face England in the first of five Tests at Edgbaston from 1 August.

Karthik has not played a Test since 2010 but was preferred ahead of Parthiv Patel whose glovework has been criticized.

The Kolkata Knight Riders skipper was called into the squad during the series against South Africa but Parthiv played ahead of him.

Ajinkya Rahane will lead the squad that does not include Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Jasprit Bumrah.