Senior Indian batsman KL Rahul will miss the third Test against England in Rajkot due to an ongoing injury concern. Rahul, who failed to fully recover from a right quadriceps injury sustained during the first Test in Hyderabad, was added to the India squad for the remaining matches of the series with the condition that his availability would depend on his fitness. After sitting out the second Test, the decision has been made to continue his recovery process, with Rahul reaching 90% match fitness under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team.
In Rahul’s absence, Devdutt Padikkal, the talented left-handed batsman from Karnataka, has been named as his replacement for the Rajkot Test. Padikkal, who has been in stellar form in domestic cricket, notably scored 151 runs in his most recent Ranji Trophy match. The 23-year-old has impressed selectors with his consistent performances, including notable contributions in India A’s matches against England Lions.
Rahul’s extended absence raises questions about the transparency surrounding injury updates for senior players. Nevertheless, the Indian team is gearing up for the third Test with a revamped squad, led by captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah. The updated squad also includes promising talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, along with the newly-added Devdutt Padikkal.
