Kl Rahul ruled out of the 3rd Test against England, Devdutt Padikkal named as replacement.
India has been dealt a significant setback as seasoned batsman KL Rahul has been ruled out of the third Test against England, set to commence on Thursday, February 15, in Rajkot.
Following his participation in the first Test in Hyderabad, Rahul reported right quadriceps discomfort, forcing him to sit out the second Test in Vizag. During the announcement of the squad for the final three Tests of the five-match series on Saturday, February 10, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) mentioned that “the participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is contingent upon fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.” As per a BCCI press release, the Karnataka batsman did not receive full clearance from the medical team, and his fitness will be under observation for another week before a decision is made regarding his return.
Rahul remains at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has not joined the Indian squad in Rajkot. The team management remains optimistic about his availability for the fourth Test. Karnataka batsman Devdutt Padikkal has been named as Rahul’s replacement for the third Test. Padikkal’s exceptional form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 has earned him a well-deserved call-up to the national team.