India have added KS Bharat into the squad for the tour of England where they will play as many as six Test matches including the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, news agency ANI reported.
Bharat has been added as a cover for Wriddhiman Saha, who has just recovered from a Covid-19 infection that he contracted while being in the biosecure bubble with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2021, the report further said.
“He was added as cover for Saha considering he was still recovering from the virus and wicket-keeping is a specialised job. If Saha wasn't fit in time, we would have needed a second keeper in the squad for the tour which is a three-month-long one," ANI quoted an unnamed source in the know of the developments.
The BCCI has arranged a chartered flight for players outside of Mumbai to assemble in the city and to quarantine before flying to the UK for the long tour.
India have already picked a large squad consisting of 20 players to cover all bases keeping in mind the longevity of the tour and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation that does not allow swift fly in and fly out for players.