Three days out from the third India vs England Test in Rajkot, KL Rahul has reportedly been ruled out from the Test starting on February 15, Thursday.
The Indian Express on Monday reported that the 31-year-old KL Rahul will need one more week to be fully fit from the quad injury that kept him out of the second Test in Vizag, which India won to level the series.
Last week, the BCCI named both Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, the pair that missed the Vizag Test due to injuries, in the squad for the rest of the three Tests, but added a note that both’s participation is subject to fitness clearance.
According to the report in The Indian Express, Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from his hamstring injury and will feature in Rajkot, KL Rahul won’t be fit fit the third Test.
The report said, “While Rahul wasn’t found to be fully fit yet, Jadeja was given the green signal to take the field for the crucial third Test in the series which is tied 1-1. The medical team, it is learned, has told the selectors that they would observe Rahul for one more week to take a call on his availability.”
KL Rahul is still at the NCA in Bangalore and hasn’t flown to Rajkot. The selectors and the team management are hoping that the senior batsman will be fit for the fourth Test in Ranchi.
This news of Rahul missing the third Test means that Sarfaraz Khan is likely to make his Test debut.
Devdutt Padikkal added to India squad for 3rd Test after KL Rahul was ruled out
Rahul’s Karnataka teammate, left-handed batsman Devdutt Padikkal has been added to the squad for the Rajkot Test. In 31 first-class matches, Padikkal averages 44 with six centuries to his name.
Padikkal, who played for RR and RCB in the IPL, has recorded three centuries in his last six first-class innings, which include a century and a fifty against England Lions. It is learned that the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had been watching the Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu game from the stands in Chennai, where Padikkal scored 151 and impressed Agarkar.
After the game against Tamil Nadu, Devdutt Padikkal indicated that he is ready to be flexible in the batting order. He said, “I don’t mind batting at No.3 and I don’t mind opening either. So that doesn’t really make a huge difference. As you play more and more cricket and as you gain experience, at this level you will naturally be able to play more shots because you will be more confident about your areas.”
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