India’s Rajat Patidar has not been able to make the most of his chances early in his India career, scoring a total of 63, at an average of 10.5, in the first three Test matches against England.
Many pundits as well as fans have called for the middle-order batter to be dropped from the Indian Test side given his poor run with the bat for the fifth and last match. India have already bagged the series, having taken an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Former South Africa star batter AB de Villiers wants India to persist with Patidar.
“Rajat Patidar not having the series of a lifetime or one to remember. But the good thing about this Indian team and the culture is that you will survive in that side because of the great cricket they are playing and the results coming their way. If his attitude is catchy and if he is a likable character in the dressing room, Rohit and the selection panel will have the ability to say, Hold on, we do believe this guy has a future and we see him as a part of the team moving forward. Even though he hasn’t been scoring runs, let’s give him a longer run,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers said that throughout the series, someone or the other has stepped up when the team needed them to and is not putting it past Patidar to do the same, given he gets the chance to do so.
“It’s just incredible how these guys keep on performing, and it’s not always the same guys, which tells me there’s a really good culture in this team, keeping in mind the youngsters coming through as well. There has got to be a good culture in the team if you get youngsters and different players to stand up every time,” De Villiers added.
Despite the series being decided, India and England still have 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points to play for in Dharamsala, which gets underway on March 7.
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