Wicketkeeper-batsman K.L Rahul has been sidelined from the upcoming third Test match against England due to a nagging knee issue. This setback comes after his absence from the second Test in Visakhapatnam due to a right quadriceps problem, compounding his journey back to full fitness.
Initially expected to join the squad on Tuesday, Rahul's plans were halted following scans conducted in Bangalore, which revealed that he hadn't fully recovered.
In Rahul's absence, his Karnataka teammate, Devdutt Padikkal, will step in to fill the gap in the batting lineup. Padikkal, renowned for his graceful batting style and burgeoning talent, eagerly embraces the opportunity to showcase his skills on the Test stage.
Having displayed impressive form recently, Padikkal earns his maiden call-up to the Test squad. With a remarkable tally of three centuries, Padikkal has amassed 556 runs at an impressive average of 92.67 in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. Notably, he scored a century against the England Lions for India A, followed by a scintillating 151 against Tamil Nadu, earning him the Player-of-the-Match accolade.
Making his debut in the 2018–19 domestic season, Padikkal has featured in 31 first-class matches, accumulating 2227 runs at an average of 44.54. He also represented India in two Twenty20 Internationals against Sri Lanka in July 2021.
With the absence of Virat Kohli due to personal reasons, India's batting order faces a significant void, lacking the seasoned experience and depth required to counter England's bowling attack effectively. The exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the remaining three Tests further exacerbates the batting dilemma. India's team management is thus confronted with challenging decisions ahead of the Rajkot Test, aiming to fill crucial positions amidst the absence of key players.
Adding to the uncertainty is the fitness status of Ravindra Jadeja, whose availability remains in question pending a clearance. The all-rounder, recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the first Test in Hyderabad, is hopeful of staging a comeback on his home ground in Rajkot. However, his participation hangs in the balance, casting doubt over India's bowling options.
Revised India squad for the third Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
