Jagadeesan has played 52 FC matches and has more than 3000 runs with 10 centuries.
Narayan Jagadeesan, a Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman, revealed that he received a call from a selector on Thursday informing him of his impending trip to England as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant, adding that he was always aware that he was on the verge of being selected for India after being part of a targeted group.
The fifth Test in the five-match England Test series is set to take place at The Oval from July 31 to August 4, and Pant, who has a toe fracture, may not play if India loses the series in Manchester.
Reports initially suggested Ishan Kishan as a cover for Pant but with the former injured as well, Jagadeesan got a call.
“I got a call from the selector and he said: ‘You might get another call in one hour’s time. So just be ready.’ And after that, I just had a lot of jitters waiting for the call. It was a very happy moment. I’ve always dreamt of being a part of the Indian Test team. I think wearing the whites has something special to it. And that has always been something in my head, something I really wanted to be part of," Jagadeesan said while speaking to The Times of India.
Although the news may have stunned many, he stated that the call-up came as no surprise to him.
“Maybe it’s out of the blue for a lot of people, but I’ve been part of the targeted players’ list for the past two to three years. I was with all the other targeted players at the NCA for the entire year and over the last two and a half years. All of us wicketkeepers were there. At some point, I knew that I was hovering near the door. I knew I just had to put my head down, stay in the present, and work hard," Jagadeesan added.
Jagadeesan has 3373 runs in 52 first-class matches at an average of 47.5 and 10 centuries to his name. His highest score is 321, and he has scored 14 half-centuries as well.