KS Bharat is a tough cricketer, he should get a chance in the Test series against Australia: MSK Prasad | Cricket News – Times of India

HYDERABAD: It was in November 2019 that Andhra wicketkeeper Kona Srikar Bharat was first drafted into the India Test squad as a cover for Wriddhiman Saha for the second game against Bangladesh. In November 2021, Bharat took the field in the first Test against New Zealand as a replacement for the injured Saha and managed to take two catches and stumped Tom Latham (95) off Axar Patel.
Three years since the first call, the Andhra batter is still looking to make his India debut. It is not that he fell out of the radar but a couple of factors, namely a phenomenon called Rishabh Pant, kept Bharat stranded on the bench during this period.
Any other player could have lost his confidence after warming the bench for so long, but Bharat is made of sterner stuff. He just kept working on his game and performing in the India A games and domestic matches. “He is a tough cricketer,” MSK Prasad, former chairman of the National senior selection committee, told TOI on Monday.
“Bharat has been a safe wicketkeeper after Saha and we had projected him as such – a guy who can replace Saha in the team. To Bharat’s misfortune, Pant came along and established himself in the team with some scintillating performances. Bharat couldn’t get the opportunities because of it but I think his time has finally come. He needs to grab it with both hands now,” Prasad said.
The unfortunate accident to Pant has opened the door for Bharat. “He thoroughly deserves it as he has been performing very consistently for India A and in domestic cricket during the last few years. He has made a definite case for himself to be in the Indian team. So, I am sure that he will carry that confidence with him. He has been around the Indian team for a couple of years, and he is comfortable with the team management and the set up. He has had the same kind of set up with India A too so it’s a wonderful time for him to make a mark. It’s a great opportunity for him and if he can keep wickets well and get some runs, he will be a good asset for the team. I have no doubts about his capability,” the first Test cricketer from Andhra said.
Speaking of Bharat’s early days, Prasad said: “I saw him when he was keeping wickets as a 11-year-old kid. Since then, we always had a special liking for him and during his under-16 days there were three wicketkeepers in Andhra. The other two were doing very well but we didn’t let Bharat out of our sight. We took him in the playing XI purely as a batsman and slowly over the years, the other two phased out but Bharat hung in there.”
Prasad says it is Bharat’s mental toughness which marks him out. “He has a strong mind and doesn’t let things affect him. He has taken all the disappointments in his stride. I think he will get his opportunity this season as there are four Test matches against Australia,” he said.
“He has a lot of runs behind him and has kept wickets well at every given opportunity and has been with the system for some time now. Hence, he understands things quite well,” the former Andhra stumper added.
Bharat, who holds the record of being the first wicketkeeper to score a triple century in Ranji Trophy, is 29 years old and will it go against him? “Test cricket is all about experience. There are quite a few cricketers who have made their debut at 30 plus and because of their consistent performances they lasted long. I am sure Bharat too will be in that league and do extremely well for himself and the country,” he said.
With Ishan Kishan too in the ODI squad for India’s games against New Zealand, Bharat could find it tough to get into the playing XI. Is Bharat good for the longer formats only? “He started off as a longer format player but subsequently he has done well in the Vijay Hazare, Mushtaq Ali and also in the IPL when he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore. So, he has evolved himself as an all-format player with the experience he gained in the last few years,” Prasad said.