Cricket is a funny game. K.S Bharat started as replacement of Rishabh Pant. There are so many incidents in which a player out of nowhere comes into the limelight with one innings, and how many times we have seen a player who was given lot of chances and suddenly he is out of the team and never plays again.
For example, take the case of Karun Nair.
Karun Nair has a triple century to his name in the first 3 test matches, but he was selected in place of injured Ajinkya Rahane.
In the next 3 test matches against Australia at home, he was not able to score single half century, and with Rahane coming back, it was little harsh to Karun Nair to give his place to Rahane again, but such is the competition in India, and for a place of pure batsman, its almost cut-throat.
K.S Bharat who is itself lucky to have played 7 test matches for India in place of injured Rishabh Pant, may have to carry the regret of not converting the 12 innings he has played in familiar conditions of India to not register even a single half century.
The best he has managed so far is 44 and Dhruv Jurel who has come in place of him, for the third test against England, already scored 2 more than his best score, 46, missing out on a well deserved half century.
If we look at the Srikar Bharat technique, he never looks like he can occupy the crease for a longer time. Always doing a little too much. Gives the indication of being in a hurry and so much going in his mind.
12 innings without scoring a test half century and still give him more chances will really do injustice to Karun Nair who has atleast has a modest triple hundred to his name in 7 innings he has played.
India did have the option to try Sanju Samson when Gabba test hero Rishabh Pant was not available for selection, but K.S Bharat was seen as the specialist wicketkeeper in longer format after Rishabh Pant.
Well, all said and done, we can say its time over for Srikar Bharat as Dhruv Jurel with impressive first class average of 46 as compare to Srikar Bharat average of 36, Dhruv is unlikely to not utilize the chances he will be getting.
With some impressive performaces in IPL, a good first class average, great attitude from Dhruv Jurel, K.S Bharath also himself know, that he has already played the last match for India.
7 test, 12 innings, average of 20 and highest score of 44 is what cricinfo reads for K.S Bharat, which may well be the final stats for him for “Bharat” in longer format.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/srikar-bharat-529436
