IND vs ENG 2024: Vikram Rathour backs Rajat Patidar to come good

India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour has put his weight behind under-fire Rajat Patidar to come good in the remainder of the series against England. Patidar made his debut for India against England at Vizag but hasn’t got a big score thus far.

The right-hander did look good in his maiden Test innings but was unluckily dismissed after scoring 32. The Madhya Pradesh batter has managed only 46 runs in two Test matches at a paltry average of 11.5.

Rathour feels Patidar hasn’t had the rub of the green on his side as the ball has stopped on him and he has failed to adjust.

Vikram Rathour said in the pre-match press conference, “As far as having conversations with him [Patidar], yes, we have been having a lot of conversations with him but one thing he needs to understand is that this is how this game goes. He has been batting really well, he has scored a lot of runs to get into the team and doesn’t become a bad player from two matches.

“He is a very good player. He has really batted well in whatever cricket he has played. He has had a few tough games, a few awkward dismissals where the ball has stopped on him, this can happen, this is how the game goes. Absolutely no doubt that he is a good player and on his day he will come up with a very impactful innings,” he emphasised.

Pressure must be mounting on Rajat Patidar as young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan have grabbed their opportunities with both hands. Patidar received another opportunity in the final XI after KL Rahul was declared unfit for the Ranchi Test.

India has England on the mat at 112-5 at lunch on the opening day of the penultimate Test match after Ben Stokes decided to bat first.