New Delhi: Indian cricket team's star batter KL Rahul has been ruled out of India vs New Zealand two-match Test series after sustaining a muscle strain on his left thigh, BCCI said in a press release. This news comes as a huge blow for the national team as senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have also been rested for the India vs New Zealand 1st Test, keeping in mind the 'workload management'.
As per the press release, Rahul will now undergo rehabilitation at NCA in preparation for the series against South Africa scheduled next month. BCCI has named Suryakumar Yadav as his replacement. The first Test between India and New Zealand will begin on November 25, 2021 in Kanpur.
In-form KL Rahul was not included in India's playing XI for the third and final T20I match against New Zealand. In the first two T20Is, he along with veteran Rohit Sharma gave India a solid start. In absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane will lead team India in the first Test. Suryakumar Yadav, who comes in as Rahul's replacement, was also associated with the national squad during India vs England Test series.
On Tuesday, KLRahul had skipped India's practice session at Green Park. Shubman Gill was seen opening the batting along with Mayank Agarwal during the net session and after this Cheteshwar Pujara batted. Pujara has been appointed as team India's vice-captain for Ind vs NZ 1st Test. In KL Rahul's absence, Suryakumar Yadav will now get a chance to make his Test debut and will bat in the middle order.
India’s Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.