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Middle-order batsman KL Rahul is most likely to return to action for the fourth India-England Test starting in Ranchi on February 23. India captain Rohit Sharma, after his post-match press conference in Rajkot on Sunday, gave a clear update. about the experienced hitter and said, “he should be fine.”
Both Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were ruled out of the second Test in Visakhapatnam but returned to the team for the remaining three Tests in Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala respectively. Both players’ participation was subject to their fitness and although Jadeja recovered in time for his home Test, Rahul was ruled out and the senior selection committee announced Devdutt Padikkal as a replacement.
“KL Rahul, whose availability for the remaining three Tests was subject to his fitness, has been ruled out for the third Test against England in Rajkot. “Mr. Rahul has reached 90 per cent of his match fitness and is progressing well under the supervision of the BCCI medical team,” read a BCCI press notice on February 12.
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When India was playing the Test in Rajkot, Rahul continued his recovery at the National Cricket Academy to be fit for the remaining two Tests.
“He will continue his recovery process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to be fully fit for the fourth and fifth Tests,” the media advisory added.
Rahul complained of pain in his right quadriceps during the first Test in Hyderabad and has been absent since then. The right-hander uploaded a video of him enjoying a net session last week and is likely to return to the middle-order for the Ranchi Test.
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In the absence of Rahul, Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan were tried in the middle order and although Patidar is yet to make a substantial contribution in the four innings he played, Sarfaraz made an instant impact with a fifty in each innings of his debut Test.
Before the third Test, the team management released Mukesh Kumar from the team to allow him to play the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, but new additions Akash Deep and Padikkal remained in the team. Padikkal was even on the field as a substitute for R Ashwin, who had to fly back home during the Test due to a “family medical emergency”. The experienced journeyman returned to the field on Day 4 and even took a wicket as India cruised to a resounding victory.
Team India to leave for Ranchi on Tuesday