Picture Credit: AP
It would not be wrong to say that KS Bharat, the back-up wicketkeeper for India's ongoing Test series against New Zealand, has so far grabbed the opportunity he has got with both the hands. The player was substituted for Wriddhiman Saha - who was in the playing XI - after the latter complained of a stiff neck on Day 3 of the ongoing Kanpur Test and failed to keep the wickets for India.
The substitute wicketkeeper has had a very busy outing in Kanpur. Soon after coming into action, he missed two sharp chances, one off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin and other off the bowling of Axar Patel. However, Bharat later impressed everyone by taking two brilliant catches to dismiss Will Young and Ross Taylor before effecting a fantastic stumping to dismiss Tom Latham.
I was doing my morning routine...support staff told me to get ready: Bharat
After the day's play, Bharat revealed that the opportunity came to him, giving him very less time to prepare.
''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.
With the growing confidence in the game, Bharat was also becoming more vocal behind the stumps. He kept motivating his teammates thought the innings.
VVS Laxman lauds KS Bharat's wicketkeeping skills
Given that the pitch of Kanpur was offering immense turn to the spinners with some low bounce also being noticed on Day 3, Bharat did an admirable job overall behind the stumps. Former India cricketer VVS Laxman was also among the many veterans who were left impressed by the performance of the player. "Very impressed with the way KS Bharat has kept on this wkt and against quality spinners. Great hands and outstanding foot work. Definitely has a very bright future. #NZvIND," wrote Laxman on Twitter.
Bharat, meanwhile, responded to it, saying, "Thank you so much for the appreciation and wishes Anna . Means a lot to me . Will keep building to it."