Work ethic and glovework key to Bharat's rise

For the past 12 months, KS Bharat has been doing what many of his predecessors had to do: diligently wait for his turn to don the gloves for India. By its intrinsic nature, the wicketkeeper's role demands patience and adherence to status quo; there's space for only one in a playing eleven and it usually takes a series of poor performances for an incumbent to be dislodged.

- Vivek Krishnan

Bharat has become a regular member of the India Test squad since Wriddhiman Saha was phased out in early 2022, but Rishabh Pant's match-winning exploits mean that the 29-year old from Andhra has had to be content with biding time as a backup.

With Pant out of action though after a car accident in December, a window of opportunity has opened up for Bharat to finally make his Test debut in the series against Australia starting February 9.

There's also Ishan Kishan in the reckoning - he is in a similar mould to Pant-but if India's recent selections are anything to go by, Bharat may get first crack simply because he has been in the squad as the second wicketkeeper for all this time.

A patient wait