KL Rahul is set to make his return to the Ranji Trophy after five years. The Indian batter has been included in Karnataka’s 17-player squad for their final Elite Group C match, where they will face Haryana at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, beginning Thursday, January 30.
Rahul was expected to feature in Karnataka’s previous game against Punjab but missed out due to an elbow injury. Now fully fit, he will join the team’s training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
His last Ranji Trophy appearance for Karnataka was in the 2019-20 semi-final against Bengal, where he scored 26 runs in the first innings and was dismissed for a duck in the second. After five years, the 32-year-old is set to return to India’s top-tier first-class competition.
Rahul’s inclusion strengthens Karnataka ahead of their crucial match. With 19 points, they sit third in the group after a dominant win over Punjab. To reach the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy knockouts, Karnataka needs a big victory over Haryana with bonus points.
Karnataka Squad for Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Match Against Haryana
KL Rahul, who last featured in a first-class domestic match during the Duleep Trophy in September 2024, bolsters Karnataka’s batting lineup for their final group-stage Ranji Trophy 2024-25 encounter against Haryana. Mayank Agarwal will captain the team, with all-rounder Shreyas Gopal serving as vice-captain.
Rahul has played 103 first-class matches, scoring 7262 runs at an average of 42.71. The Indian batter has also accumulated 18 centuries and 36 half-centuries in his career.
Karnataka’s 17-member squad for the upcoming clash against Haryana includes: Mayank Agarwal (captain), KL Rahul, Shreyas Gopal (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, KV Aneesh, R Smaran, KL Shrijith (wk), Abhinav Manohar, Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, Vidwath Kaverappa, Vasuki Koushik, Abhilash Shetty, Yashovardhan Parantap, Nikin Jose, Sujay Sateri (wk), and Mohsin Khan.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
