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India‘s middle-order batter KL Rahul has been ruled out of the third Test against England in Rajkot, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming his absence due to ongoing fitness concerns.
KL Rahul continues to recover from his quadriceps injury
Rahul’s participation in the remaining three Tests had been uncertain pending his fitness assessment. The BCCI has indicated that Rahul has made significant progress, reaching 90 percent match fitness under the guidance of the medical team. However, to ensure his complete recovery, Rahul will continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
Selectors name KL Rahul’s replacement for the Rajkot Test
In light of Rahul’s unavailability, the All India Men’s Selection Committee has announced Devdutt Padikkal as his replacement for the third Test, scheduled to commence on February 15. Padikkal, known for his consistent batting performance in the domestic circuit, will be eager to make an impact if given the opportunity.
The absence of Rahul presents a challenge for India’s batting lineup, but Padikkal’s inclusion offers a fresh perspective and an opportunity for the young talent to prove his mettle on the international stage.
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As India prepares to take on England in the third Test of the five-match series, the spotlight will be on skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid as they decide to pick up a batter in the playing XI, who could step up to fill the void left by Rahul’s absence and contribute to India’s quest for victory against the touring side.
India’s updated squad for the Rajkot Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal
*Subject to fitness
