'I only had 12 minutes to get set for the game' - KS Bharat

India’s second-choice wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has said that he got just 12 minutes to get himself ready for the match after the management told him to don the gloves. Wriddhiman Saha, who was the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, was ruled out due to neck stiffness on Day 3 of the ongoing Test match against New Zealand.

Bharat was doing his usual morning routine before the start of the third day’s play when one of the support staff rushed him to convey the message that he had to keep in Saha’s absence. The Andhra Pradesh player prepared himself and got ready to keep on a tricky Kanpur surface. "I was doing my morning routine and then the support staff told me to get ready. I only had 12 minutes to get set for the game," KS Bharat said in a video posted on BCCI TV.

After the end of Day 3, the 28-year-old had a conversation with Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin and revealed the story. Bharat, who has been a regular part of India A tours for three years, did a brilliant job behind the stumps. He took two smart catches and stumped Tom Latham.

Bharat also had to deal with uneven bounce. Yet, he made the required adjustments and complimented the spin trio and pacers well. His catch of Will Young of the bowling of Ashwin was lauded by all. "I knew the time I walked in that the ball is keeping low, so the best chance is to be behind the ball and keep making adjustments."

Speaking about the match, India managed to dismiss New Zealand for 296, with Axar Patel taking a five-wicket haul. Ashwin picked three wickets.