KL Rahul, who has been touring with Team India as a third opener, is likely to keep wickets in the warm-up game against Durham’s select county championship XI with Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha in strict quarantine.
Pant had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 8 and has been in isolation in a relative’s house ever since. He has not travelled with the squad to Durham and will miss the practice game.
On the other hand, Wriddhiman Saha has also been advised to serve a quarantine by BCCI’s medical team after coming in contact with India’s throwdown specialist Dayanand Garani, who is the second member to contract the deadly virus.
With both wicket-keepers unavailable for selection, it is likely that KL Rahul will don the wicket-keeper’s gloves for the first warm-up match.
“Both Pant and Saha will be unavailable for the team’s practice game against Combined County XI at Chester-le-Street at Durham from July 20, which means KL Rahul should be going the glovework in that game. However, Pant should be able to make it to the team’s second practice match – an intra-squad game from July 28,” a report in TOI quoted a source as saying.
Good experience watching ⚽️. 🏴 vs 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/LvOYex5svE
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) June 30, 2021
Apart from Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha, Abhimanyu Easwaran will also miss the first warm-up game after been advised to serve isolation.
KL Rahul will look to make the opportunity count
The Karnataka batsman, who has warmed the benches in the red-ball format after being left out due to poor form, will look to make the most of the opportunity in the warm-up game.
With Shubman Gill ruled out of the tour, an opening slot is up for grabs, and Rahul will have his eyes firmly set for that berth.
The Emirates Riverside ground in Durham will host the game, which starts on July 20 (Tuesday). The match will be played strictly behind closed doors and will be streamed live via the Durham Cricket Youtube channel.
