VISAKHAPATNAM: Team India had a welcome addition to the squad on Wednesday as the selectors included KL Rahul’s for the second Test against England, starting here from Friday. The Karnataka opener suffered a hamstring injury during India’s first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur and subsequently missed the remainder of the series. Fully recovered, Rahul scored 76 in the first innings against Rajasthan in the ongoing Ranji fixture at Vizianagaram and followed it up with 106 on Wednesday and will head to Vizag high on confidence.
Though Gautam Gambhir is there in the side, the left-hander hasn’t been able to deliver the desired goods, and struggled in the first Test at Rajkot. Rahul’s inclusion means India might drop the left-hander for the city’s debut Test. “We still have two days. Rahul is available for selection and you would want Rahul to be in the starting line-up. That’s the reason he has been included,” India coach Anil Kumble said.
Although Rahul was fit even before the first Test, the Indian team-management, under Kumble, have made it mandatory for players returning from injury to play in domestic fixture to prove the fitness levels. Rahul’s inclusion isn’t entire surprising as the right-hander has been one of the most improved players in the squad and already has three Test centuries under his belt in nine Test matches.
Kumble too seemed pleased to have Rahul back. “After the injury in Kanpur, he was not available for any of the Test matches against New Zealand nor for the one-dayers. He has recovered now and as per the protocol, we wanted him to go and play a first class match. He got a hundred in the Ranji game and he got 70-plus against Rajasthan. Since the match was happening very close to Vizag, it’s good to have him in the squad and he is available for selection,” said Kumble.