KL Rahul during a practice session. (file photo)
KL Rahul Will not play the fifth Test between India and England as the India opener is unlikely to recover from a back injury ahead of the South Africa T20I.
Rahul, who was set to lead India in the five-match T20I series against South Africa, missed the opportunity to showcase his captaincy skills due to an injury.
For the limited overs series in England, the all-rounder Hardik Pandya likely to lead the side. Currently, Rishabh Pant is leading the team against South Africa and the wicketkeeper-batsman will join the Test squad in England after the South Africa series.
“Rahul has not recovered from his back injury. The Test team members are gathering in Mumbai today and will go out at midnight. Rahul is not traveling with the team. He will take some more time to recover, however. He may appear for the fitness test during this weekend. The chances of recovery are not looking bright,” a BCCI official told PTI. PTI,
All players are leaving for England in the early hours of Thursday for the July 1-5 match except Pant, who is the captain. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jasprit Bumrah And Mohammed Shami,
“near you Shubman GillWho has opened in most of his Test matches. Otherwise, Cheteshwar Pujara can also open the batting if there is any fitness issue for either of the two openers. It was a 17-man squad and 16 would be leaving. So it is not a problem,” said the source.
-Hardik in the line of captaincy in Ireland-
It has been decided that Pant will not play two T20Is against Ireland and hence Hardik, who is his deputy for the South Africa series, is expected to lead the side.
“While there is Dinesh Karthikwho is the senior most player with the team Bhuvneshwar KumarHardik, who was Pant’s designated deputy and hence the favorite for the leadership,” the official said.
In the absence of Pant, India have two keeper in the team in the form of Ishan Kishan and Karthik.
There will not be much change in the team currently playing against South Africa and hence the chances of Mohsin Khan or Rahul Tripathi are slim.
(Inputs PTI)