It's just very exciting for me – AB de Villiers on Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan’s inclusion in the Indian Test squad

India will be hopeful of a turnaround after a defeat in the first Test against England, but much to the team’s woes, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have been sidelined with injuries for the second Test. Rahul and Jadeja’s names add to India’s list of unavailable players, with Virat Kohli having opted out of the first two Tests. 

With the top three names unavailable, RCB’s No.3 in the IPL, Rajat Patidar, stands a chance at making his Test debut. Alongside him, Sarfaraz Khan will also be up for contention on the back of his domestic numbers. Patidar has amassed 4000 runs for Madhya Pradesh from 55 matches at an average of 45.97 with 12 centuries and 22 fifties while Sarfaraz has garnered 3912 runs from 66 innings in the First-Class circuit.

Talking on his Youtube channel, RCB Hall of Famer, AB de Villiers, highlighted why both the batters are excellent prospects for the Indian cricket team. ABD said, “It's just very exciting for me. Sarfaraz’s record in first-class cricket is quite outstanding, and if there's a guy that deserves it, it's certainly him. He has played 66 innings, 3912 runs, and an average of 69.85. 14 hundreds and 11 fifties, guys, that is not normal.”

Also shedding light on Rajat Patidar, de Villiers said, “That is a very, very good First-Class record. I know it's a big jump up to international cricket against England, on the biggest stage, I hope he gets a chance because Rajat Patidar has also been playing well.”