India opener and vice-captain KL Rahul has been ruled out of the entire England tour due to a groin injury because of which he missed the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. And, according to Cricbuzz, Rahul will fly to Germany for further treatment.
KL Rahul Ruled Out Of IND vs ENG
The England tour comprises one Test in Edgbaston – the fifth Test, part of the unfinished series from last year – followed by 3 T20Is and as many ODIs.
At the time of writing, there is no official update from the BCCI but is expected soon, about Rahul’s injury status. In Rahul’s absence, Shubman Gill will open alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. However, the management may demand a backup opener from the selectors.
Here are the two primary options for KL Rahul’s replacement:
Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal featured in India’s last three Test series – vs New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka – when either Rahul or Rohit was injured. He hit a century vs the Kiwis and a fifty against South Africa.
However, dip in scores in the latter half of the South Africa series and against Sri Lanka – he didn’t hit a single fifty in his last 8 Test innings – and Shubman Gill’s return to fitness meant Agarwal was dropped for the England Test. Now, though, he could be back in the mix.
It is not to forget that Agarwal was supposed to start the England series last year but a concussion on the eve of the first Test meant he was ruled out and his position was taken by Rahul, who made it a memorable series by returning as India’s second-highest run-scorer.
Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw was cruelly left out of the Test squad after failures in the Adelaide Test on the last Australia trip. Shaw, who hit a century on his Test debut way back in 2018, has been in dominating form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy – he has smacked 3 fifties in 8 innings in the Ranji Trophy, his 264 runs coming at a blistering strike rate of 85.
Also, India could use Cheteshwar Pujara as an opener after the veteran batsman made his comeback to the Test squad on the back of a monumental County season.
