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[Saba Sports News] In the lead-up to the penultimate Test between India and England in Ranchi, the hosts batting coach Vikram Rathour provided an update on the injury status of star batsman KL Rahul.
Having missed the second Test in Vizag and the third match in Rajkot, the 31-year-old is set to be absent for the fourth Test as well. He has not fully recovered from a right quadriceps injury sustained after the first Test in Hyderabad, which England won by 28 runs.
Despite expectations of his return for the third Test, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Rahul had achieved only 90 percent match fitness, prompting his continued absence.
Rathour, in a pre-match press conference, revealed that Rahul remains unfit, emphasizing the binary nature of fitness – either fit or unfit.
“KL Rahul is not fit at the moment. I don’t know about the percentage but as far as I am concerned, it’s either fit or unfit. As of now, he is unfit. BCCI’s medical team will be in a better position to know about the injury,” said Rathour on Thursday.
Looking ahead, the BCCI stated that Rahul’s potential comeback for the final Test in Dharamsala is contingent on his fitness.
The board conveyed, “Meanwhile, KL Rahul is ruled out of the 4th Test. His participation in the final Test match in Dharamsala is subject to fitness.”
Rahul showcased glimpses of brilliance in the series-opener, scoring a solid 86 off 123 balls in the first innings
Adding to India’s challenges, premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah, the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series, will also be sidelined for the Ranchi Test. The team management decided to rest Bumrah for workload management, considering India’s current series advantage.
“Bumrah is fine. Every game is crucial. We would have loved to have Jasprit Bumrah for all the games but the kind of workload he has had, it was thought to give him rest. He was absolutely fine but we also have to keep in mind the workload ahead,” Rathour added.