India's new Test skipper Virat Kohli Monday said that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who retired from the longest format of the game after the third Test in Melbourne, is still on standby and will take the field in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) if something untoward happened to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.
"Dhoni is the second keeper as of now, God forbid something happens to Saha, I can't keep in the game so he obviously has to step in," Kohli said.
The skipper, however, stated that there was no injury concern about Saha and he was fit to play in the fourth Test starting Tuesday.
"There's nothing wrong with Saha but ... something might happen tonight, he might get a stomach bug. Can you guarantee that you will walk out of his room now and not get a twisted ankle?
"Saha is playing ? MS is on standby," added the prolific middle order batsman.
Dhoni's decision to quit apparently came as a shock to his family members as it is believed that even they did not know about it before he announced it to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Kohli captained the side in the first Test at Adelaide and impressed with his aggressive style. He almost led the team to victory but a batting collapse in the final session cost India dear.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
