Dinesh Karthik replaces Wriddhiman Saha for Afghanistan Test

Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out of the historic India v Afghanistan Test because of a thumb injury, with Dinesh Karthik called up as his replacement for the match, to be played in Bangalore from 14 June.

Saha, turning out for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2018, suffered the injury when he was struck by a bouncer during a game against Kolkata Knight Riders and was forced to miss the tournament final against Chennai Super Kings, which his team lost by eight wickets.

“He was under observation by the medical staff of the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] and the management has decided to give him adequate rest before the start of the England Test series. Saha's recovery period is expected to be around five to six weeks,” said Amitabh Choudhary, the BCCI’s Acting Honorary Secretary, in a press statement.

India's five-Test series in England will begin at Edgbaston on 1 August, giving Saha enough time to recover.

Saha had earlier missed six games in the IPL 2018 with a shoulder injury, before being laid low by the blow to the thumb.

With there being no back-up wicket-keeping option in the 15-man squad – KL Rahul is the only one with wicket-keeping experience, though usually as a part-timer – Karthik has been drafted into the squad.

Karthik was most recently seen in action for the ICC World XI side in the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge match at Lord’s against the Windies, but played the last of his 23 Test matches back in January 2010.

The squad for the Afghanistan Test doesn’t have Virat Kohli, originally scheduled to spend time with Surrey to prepare for the tour of England but since sidelined with a neck injury, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. The team will be led by Ajinkya Rahane.