Kanpur: Coming as a massive blow to the Rahul Dravid-coached Team India side ahead of the series opener against New Zealand, India Test opener KL Rahul has been ruled out of first Test of the forthcoming 2 match Test series with a muscle strain on his left thigh.
“KL Rahul is not playing the first Test,” a BCCI source told PTI. Rahul was missing from the Indian team’s customary practice session, attended by almost all the players on Tuesday at the Green Park stadium.
India batter KL Rahul ruled out of first Test against New Zealand due to injury: BCCI sources
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 23, 2021
Rahul flaunted class during India’s T20Is against New Zealand which was won by India clinically. Rahul was most likely to open the order for India alongside Mayank Agarwal. Shubman Gill was seen opening the batting along with Mayank Agarwal during the team’s net session.
Rahul appeared in great touch of late and his absence will come as a huge loss for India who would already be without the presence of Rohit Sharma in the Test series. The nature and extent of Rahul’s injury could not be confirmed.
The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Suryakumar Yadav as KL Rahul’s replacement. Yadav, who was a part of India’s Test squad that travelled to England, will make his Test debut in the middle order.
The first Test between India and New Zealand begins on 25th November, 2021 in Kanpur.
India’s Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
