KL Rahul, who picked up an injury ahead of India’s ongoing home T20I series against South Africa, is doubtful to feature in the rescheduled fifth Test against England next month.
The 30-year-old is likely to miss out on the standalone Test against England, to be played at Edgbaston from July 1, with a right groin strain. Rahul was named the captain of the home series against the Proteas, but was ruled out on the eve of the first game in Delhi, with Rishabh Pant being named the captain.
“Team India Captain KL Rahul has been ruled out of the T20I series against South Africa owing to a right groin injury while Kuldeep Yadav will miss out in the T20I series after getting hit on his right hand while batting in the nets last evening,”
the BCCU had stated in a statement before the start of the series.
Rahul had been asked to report at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, which he has reportedly done a few days back. According to Cricbuzz, that diagnosis of his complaint is not complete yet, which puts his participation for the Test in doubt.
The Lucknow Super Giants skipper was named the deputy to regular captain Rohit Sharma for the England tour, which also features three T20Is and as many ODIs after the Test. Pant is likely to be named the vice-captain should Rahul be ruled out.
There is no clarity as of now if the selection committee will name a replacement if Rahul is officially ruled out, with Shubman Gill offering the option to open alongside Rohit. In case there arises a need for a replacement, Mayank Agarwal could be the frontrunner.
The Indian Test squad, barring Pant, Shreyas Iyer and head coach Rahul Dravid, will leave for England on June 16. The two players and Dravid will follow them on June 20 after the completion of the South Africa series.
