Sri Lanka Vs India 2017: We Are Watching KL Rahul Closely, Says Ravi Shastri

KL Rahul might have joined the team and has resumed his practise ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday (August 3) but head coach Ravi Shastri refrained from giving any clear cut answer on whether the opener would be playing in the upcoming match.

The Karnataka star had returned to the team after a four-month injury layoff and looked in good touch in the two-day warm-up game, scoring a 58-ball 54. However, a viral fever quashed his hopes of playing his first match since the Test against Australia in March.

Giving an update on Rahul, Shastri said that while the batsman is doing fine he is being watched closely by the team management.

“Rahul is (doing) good. We are watching him closely. He went through some tough times and he was in the hospital for 2-3 days. Obviously, it has taken a lot out of him. So we have to be very careful how we treat him, we are watching him very closely and he is getting better by the day,” Shastri said during media interaction ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

With Abhinav Mukund and Shikhar Dhawan doing well in the Galle Test and Rahul regaining full fitness, the team management will have a lot to think before they announce the playing eleven for the next Test. However, Shastri is pleased to have a strong bench strength.

“When I have good bench strength, it is very good. When there is competition for places even better because that’s healthy competition and a good headache to have. Where you know if someone is injured someone else is ready and that is across all formats,” he said.

“It is very good but ideally you want your core team to be fit and on the park as often as possible,” Shastri concluded.

India, meanwhile, is leading the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test with a whooping margin of 304 runs.