IND vs ENG: KL Rahul Not To Keep Wickets As India Set To Prepare Rank Turners - Reports

KS Bharat is all set to be preferred over KL Rahul as a keeper in the upcoming five-Test series against England. As per the reports in Indian Express, it is learned that the management hasn’t shown great faith in the latter to keep wickets on turning tracks.

The reports claimed that BCCI is all set to prepare rank turners for the five-match Test series against England. Therefore the team will need a specialist keeper. KS Bharat arguably possesses better keeping skills than Rahul and the former suits more as a keeper in those conditions.

It is learned that team management has told the selection committee that they backed KL Rahul as keeper only in South Africa because of the pace and bounce in those conditions. The Rahul Dravid-led management has clearly told BCCI that the Karnataka batter won’t be keeping wickets in India.

A source close to BCCI said: “The Indian team will once again be playing on a turner track, and the team management felt that specialist spinners should handle the job at home. The team has many quality spinners, and the team won’t take any chances, especially when the pitch being offered will be a turner.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (12th January) announced the Indian squad for the first two Test against England. They included three keepers in the team in KL Rahul, KS Bharat, and uncapped Dhruv Jurel.

There were recent reports that also suggested about KL Rahul not keeping wickets in the Tests against England. However, it mentioned that Ishan Kishan would be backed. But to many’s surprise, BCCI didn’t pick the left-hander in the team.

It has raised a lot of speculations about the left-hander’s future. But with three Tests to more to play, he might be back in the team. Ishan Kishan is expected to play Ranji Trophy first before making it back into the team.

IND vs ENG: Apart from KL Rahul not keeping, team management also likely to rotate fast bowlers

Apart from the development of KL Rahul, the reports in Indian Express also suggested that team management will be rotating fast bowlers during the five-match Test series. It is learned that no pacer will play all five games and they will be given rest according to their workload management.

India has named as many as four pacers in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar for the first two games. It is expected that the team will play only two pacers in the XI as they usually prefer playing three spinners in Indian conditions.

Over the last few years, BCCI has opted to play Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in the XI. Apart from these three, India has also included Kuldeep Yadav in the team. All of them are expected to play a huge role in the series at some part of the series.

Here is the Indian squad for the first two Test against England:

Rohit Sharma (C ), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, S Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.