The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), national selectors, and team management are facing a dilemma regarding KL Rahul’s availability for the upcoming Dharamsala Test against England, scheduled to begin on March 7. Rahul, who was deemed 90 percent fit for the third Test in Rajkot in mid-February, has not fully recovered from a quadriceps issue that stems from surgery last year.
Rahul has been sent overseas for an expert opinion and has been undergoing treatment for close to a week, with speculation suggesting he might be consulting a specialist in London. The right-handed batsman’s importance to the side, coupled with the dual roles he fulfills as a batsman and wicketkeeper, has led the BCCI, selectors, and team management to tread cautiously with his fitness.
Despite India already clinching the series against England 3-1, Rahul’s availability remains unclear. Any decision regarding his selection may also be influenced by the fact that India have already secured the series victory. At present, BCCI sources cannot confirm Rahul’s return date, potentially from London.
Rahul was rested for the second Test in Visakhapatnam as a precautionary measure after the first Test in Hyderabad, with hopes of him being fit for the third Test in Rajkot. However, his recovery did not progress as expected. A BCCI release ahead of the fourth Test stated, “KL Rahul is ruled out of the 4th Test. His participation in the final Test match in Dharamsala is subject to fitness.”
Considered a valuable asset for the side, Rahul is being treated with utmost care by the team management. While he currently only participates in Tests and ODIs as a keeper-batsman, a recall for the T20Is is being considered. Additionally, he is viewed as a key figure for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy later in the year.
Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the Ranchi Test, is expected to return for the Dharamsala game. However, discussions are ongoing regarding resting a few players to manage their workload, with the possibility of giving a break to both a batsman and a bowler.
The Indian players, along with the visiting England players, will assemble in Chandigarh on March 2 and fly to Dharamsala via a chartered flight on March 3 for the final Test match of the series.
