KS Bharat substitutes Wriddhiman Saha after wicketkeeper skip Day 3 due to stiff neck

KS Bharat, India’s second wicketkeeper-batter was seen behind the stumps on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test match against New Zealand in Kanpur. He was substituting for Wriddhiman Saha, who was out due to neck stiffness. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Saha’s unavailability on Twitter.

It also stated that the medical team is monitoring the progress of the wicketkeeper batter. "Wriddhiman Saha has stiffness in his neck. The BCCI medical team is treating him and monitoring his progress.
KS Bharat will be keeping wickets in his absence," read a tweet from the BCCI on Saturday.

It is still not clear when Saha will return to keep wickets. The 37-year-old batted in the first innings but could only manage to score one run. He kept wickets for 55 overs on Day 2 and didn't look in discomfort whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Bharat was included in the two-match Test series against New Zealand due to first-choice wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant being rested. The Andhra Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter has a plethora of experience in domestic cricket. He has also played A tours and is on the radar of the selectors as a backup option to Saha and Pant.

Bharat was also in the team for the Test series against England. He was last seen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In the last league match, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 78 off just 52 balls to help RCB win a thriller against Delhi Capitals. The 28-year-old is yet to make his Test debut. He has played 78 First-class matches, scoring 4283 runs at an average of 37.24.