The status of KL Rahul’s availability for the fifth and final Test between India and England is uncertain, the final Test is set to take place from March 7 in Dharamsala.
The right-handed batsman missed the past three Tests in the series due to a quadricep strain suffered in the first Test last month. Following the initial match, he, along with Ravindra Jadeja (hamstring injury), had to head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Although both players were included in the squad for the final three Tests of the five-match series, their participation depended on their fitness.
Despite Ravindra Jadeja recovering in time for the third Test in Rajkot, KL Rahul was unable to do so. After being ruled out of the third Test, the BCCI mentioned that the player was on the verge of regaining full fitness.
Rahul traveled to the United Kingdom to seek clarity through assessment, leaving the team management eagerly awaiting his report to finalize selections.
India finds themselves with limited options and considers Rajat Patidar for a spot in the middle order, despite his recent struggles. This adds to the selection challenge India faces as they prepare for the crucial final encounter against England. They must navigate through uncertainties surrounding player fitness while aiming to strengthen their lineup for the World Test Championship campaign, leveraging the advantage of playing at home after securing the series before the final Test.
“The medical team thought Rahul was good to go for the last three Tests. But he complained of discomfort. He is a bit concerned about it. He has endured a heavy workload while keeping wickets in the World Cup and the Test series in South Africa. Multiple scans have been done on his quads. While there is nothing very concerning, some inflammation has been noted. The reports were sent to the doctor who treated him from England. Eventually, the doctor asked him to travel to England so that he could personally check what’s wrong with Rahul,” a BCCI source revealed as quoted by Times of India.
Despite ongoing concerns about his fitness stemming from last year’s IPL injury and the subsequent surgery, the team management is puzzled as scans reveal no discernible problem with Rahul’s quadriceps. With a substantial break between the fourth and fifth Tests, the management aims to address the issue by March 2, hoping to gain a clearer understanding of Rahul’s fitness status.
“Ideally, the team management would want to see Patidar go back to play the Ranji Trophy semi-final and find some form. But that depends on Rahul’s availability. If Rahul is unavailable, then he may be asked to stay back with the team. Even if Devdutt Padikkal makes his debut in the last Test, the team management needs an extra batter in the team as a concussion substitute,” the source added.
The batsman must be eager to make a full recovery and get back into action before the upcoming season of the IPL, where he’s expected to captain Lucknow Super Giants.
