KL Rahul will play India vs England Test series as specialist batter and not wicketkeeper: Reports
Indian cricketer KL Rahul, after an incredible comeback in Test cricket, might feature in the home Test series against England as a specialist batter and not a wicketkeeper.
Rahul played in the two-Test series against South Africa as India's gloveman and scored a fantastic hundred at Centurion. However, according to reports from TOI, the team management wants to use him as a specialist batter and not a wicketkeeper on turning tracks at home.
Here's what a BCCI source told TOI:
“Rahul will play as a specialist batter from now on. While in overseas Tests you just have to stand back to the pacers, wicketkeeping in India, where spinners may operate in tandem, isn’t easy. The ball can bounce or turn viciously on the spin friendly home wickets. You’ve to keep moving up and down as a ’keeper. We want a specialist in that role."
The source further added:
"Rahul, on the other hand, is one of our most valuable batting assets. We don’t want to burn him out by making him do the glovework as well. There is also a risk of him catching an injury while standing behind the stumps, which we can’t afford. Bharat and Jurel will be our wicketkeepers in this series."
India's Ishan Kishan still unavailable for selection: BCCI source
There has been a lot of debate around the availability of Ishan Kishan after the latter asked for a break owing to mental fatigue during the tour of South Africa. While there were several reports of the team management dropping him for behaviour issues, coach Rahul Dravid made it clear in a press conference that the youngster hadn't made himself available for selection yet.
Echoing the Indian coach, the source stated:
"He (Ishan) wasn’t considered for the England series as he is yet to tell the BCCI that he can be considered for selection again."
It will be interesting to see whether the hosts go with the tried-and-tested KS Bharat as their wicketkeeper or take a punt on Dhruv Jurel by handing the youngster a debut against England. The first Test is set to be played in Hyderabad from January 25.