Parthiv Patel was picked over Rishabh Pant for his wicketkeeping skills, says Anil Kumble

Rishabh Pant may have been the man in form in the domestic circuit, but India coach Anil Kumble feels that Parthiv Patel’s experience and wicketkeeping skills make him more suitable for a place in the Indian Test side. Patel was picked as the injured Wriddhiman Saha’s replacement in the Indian squad for the remaining three Tests against England.

“Parthiv has been really consistent both with his ’keeping as well as his batting. That’s why Parthiv was chosen,” Kumble was quoted as saying by PTI on Thursday. “Rishabh has certainly shown the exuberance a young cricketer can bring in. He has shown a lot of batting skills. He has obviously got a lot of runs in domestic cricket. But Parthiv was chosen for his keeping skills and his experience,” he added.

Kumble also emphasised that Saha remains the first-choice ’keeper of the Test team. “I think it’s unfortunate that Saha is missing out in this Test match. He suffered a strain on the final day of the Test match. We wanted him to play,” Kumble said. “He was obviously in the starting the line-up but yesterday’s scans showed there was a little bit of tendinitis. That’s why it was better that we gave him a break from this Test match,” he added.

Kumble also said that former India stumper Dinesh Karthik did not make the cut as he no longer keeps wickets for his state side Tamil Nadu. Karthik reportedly has a hand injury, which has forced him to play only as a batsman.