BCCI is uncertain about KL Rahul’s fitness for the fifth Test against England in Dharamshala on March 7, as he traveled to the UK for assessment due to lingering injury concerns.
Facing a dilemma, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is grappling with KL Rahul’s fitness uncertainty ahead of the fifth Test against England in Dharamshala, starting on March 7. Rahul’s absence since the initial Hyderabad Test due to injury prompted him to seek assessment in the United Kingdom, leaving team management awaiting his evaluation for final selections.
With limited options available, India considers Rajat Patidar as a potential middle-order inclusion despite recent struggles. As India aims to capitalize on their home advantage in the World Test Championship campaign, the uncertainty surrounding Rahul’s fitness heightens the team’s selection conundrum.
“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 in 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.
With a significant gap between the fourth and fifth Tests, management targets resolution by March 2. Additionally, the management is contemplating Rajat Patidar’s involvement, weighing his potential return to Ranji semifinals to regain form. However, this decision hinges on Rahul’s availability.
Furthermore, even if Devdutt Padikkal debuts in the final Test, the management deems an extra batter necessary, potentially considering Patidar as a concussion substitute if Rahul remains unavailable.
“Ideally, the team management would want to see Patidar go back to play the Ranji semifinal 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.
Last Updated on February 28, 2024
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