“BCCI Official Criticizes Injured KL Rahul, Citing Miscommunication Concerns: Report”
“KL Rahul was sidelined from the third Test against England due to incomplete recovery from a quadriceps strain, which had already kept him out of the second match.”
Senior Indian batsman KL Rahul has been ruled out of the third Test against England in Rajkot due to his ongoing recovery from a quadriceps strain. Devdutt Padikkal, the talented left-handed batsman from Karnataka, renowned for his stellar performance in the first-class season, has been named as his replacement in the squad.
“KL Rahul, whose fitness for the remaining three Tests was contingent upon his recovery, has been officially ruled out of the third Test against England in Rajkot. Mr. Rahul has achieved 90% match fitness and is making steady progress under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team,” stated the BCCI in a press release.
Rahul will continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru with the aim of returning for the fourth and fifth Tests, as the series stands tied at 1-1.
Earlier, both Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were included in the squad, pending clearance from the BCCI’s medical team.
“KL Rahul has not yet reported in Rajkot. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja, the local player, has joined the team. It has always been a matter of fitness, and the BCCI medical team still has reservations about his match fitness,” revealed a senior BCCI source on condition of anonymity.
In his recent Ranji Trophy outing, 23-year-old Padikkal impressed with a score of 151, with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar observing his innings from the stands.
Padikkal has maintained exceptional form this season, starting with a remarkable 193 against Punjab in the opening game, followed by a century against Goa.
Apart from his domestic success, Padikkal showcased his talent for India A, scoring 105, 65, and 21 in the two unofficial Tests against England Lions.
Refocusing on Rahul, questions arise regarding the transparency of injury updates from both senior players and the BCCI’s medical team.
“If the severity of Rahul’s quad injury was known from the outset, why was he initially included in the provisional squad? Furthermore, why is he sending conflicting signals by sharing batting videos on Instagram?” queried a senior BCCI official.
Another senior player, facing potential omission due to poor form, cited multiple injuries as grounds for withdrawal, a matter the board hasn’t addressed.
Ishan Kishan’s situation adds intrigue as he hasn’t communicated with his home state unit regarding participation in a Ranji Trophy match.
With Rahul’s absence from the third and possibly fourth Test, Sarfaraz Khan could step into the middle order, especially with Shreyas Iyer’s recent exclusion.
Yet, if Jadeja returns to the XI, further selection dilemmas arise. Axar Patel has shown prowess with the bat in the preceding Tests, while Kuldeep Yadav proved to be India’s second-best bowler in Visakhapatnam after Jasprit Bumrah.
Regarding the wicketkeeper position, time may be running out for KS Bharath with Dhruv Jurel in contention, though Bharath could still receive one last opportunity in Rajkot.
India’s updated squad for the third 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.
