Patel's eight-year India Test exile ended

India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was Wednesday ruled out of the third Test against England, prompting the selectors to recall Parthiv Patel after eight years in the wilderness.

Saha sustained the left thigh strain during India's 246-run win in the second Test at Visakhapatnam.

"As a precautionary measure, Saha has been advised to rest and will not play in the next Test match," a statement from the Indian cricket board said.

Patel, 31, last played a Test in 2008 after making his debut against England in 2002 at Nottingham. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, averages 29.69 from 20 Test matches.

India's selectors have dropped veteran opener Gautam Gambhir for the final three Tests, after he was replaced by the returning Lokesh Rahul in Visakhapatnam.

Medium-pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been called into the 16-man squad.

The third Test starts in Mohali in the northern state of Punjab on Saturday. India hold a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.