Senior Indian cricketer KL Rahul has been sidelined from the upcoming third Test against England due to lingering issues with his quadriceps strain, which also kept him out of the previous match in Visakhapatnam. Stepping into his shoes is the promising left-handed batsman from Karnataka, Devdutt Padikkal, who has been enjoying an exceptional run in domestic cricket this season.
Despite Padikkal’s inclusion, Rahul’s focus remains on recuperating fully at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, with hopes of making a comeback for the subsequent Tests in the series, which is currently deadlocked at 1-1.
An anonymous source said: “KL Rahul hasn’t yet reported in Rajkot. Ravindra Jadeja, the local boy has linked up with the team. It was always a case of subject to fitness and BCCI medical team is still not confident that he is match fit.”
The decision to omit Rahul follows the selectors’ cautious approach, as both he and Ravindra Jadeja were initially included in the squad pending clearance from the BCCI’s medical team. Meanwhile, Padikkal’s recent heroics in the Ranji Trophy, including a commendable 151-run innings, have caught the attention of selectors, particularly chairman Ajit Agarkar.
A senior BCCI official said: “If the BCCI’s medical team knew in first place that Rahul’s quad injury is as serious as it looks, why in the first place was he kept in provisional squad. And why is the player sending wrong signals by posting videos of his batting on Instagram stories.”
However, Rahul’s prolonged absence has sparked speculation regarding the transparency of injury updates provided by both senior players and the medical team. This scepticism is compounded by another senior player’s withdrawal citing undisclosed injuries, a matter not officially addressed by the board. The situation is further complicated by Ishan Kishan’s silence regarding his availability for Ranji Trophy matches.
With Rahul out of contention for the upcoming Tests, opportunities may arise for players like Sarfaraz Khan to stake their claim in the middle order, especially with Shreyas Iyer also being dropped. Yet, the return of Jadeja poses selection dilemmas, considering the promising performances of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav in recent matches.
The wicketkeeper’s role also remains uncertain, with KS Bharat facing pressure from Dhruv Jurel for his spot in the squad. Despite the competition, Bharat might still have a chance to prove himself in the upcoming Test in Rajkot.
The updated squad for the third Test sees Padikkal’s inclusion alongside other notable players, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, with Jasprit Bumrah as the vice-captain. The composition reflects a blend of experience and emerging talent as India aims to break the deadlock in the ongoing series against England.
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