KL Rahul
KL Rahul. (Photo: BCCI)

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said KL Rahul’s absence from India’s squad for the England tour is a setback for the visitors in the rescheduled fifth Test match.

Rahul was supposed to lead India in the five T2o Internationals against South Africa at home but unfortunately suffered a groin injury, that ruled him out on the eve of the series. Reports suggested that Rahul will leave for Germany at the end of June or early July for his treatment.

KL Rahul to miss England tour

On June 16, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Raul will skip the one Test, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals in England next month. The Indian cricket board decided to send the Indian opener to Germany for medical treatment.

Wasim Jaffer on KL Rahul
Photo Credit: (AP)

It’s a massive setback for India: Sanjay Manjrekar on KL Rahul’s unavailability for England tour

Rahul is the third-highest run-scorer of the India-England 2021 Test series with 315 runs in four Tests at 39.38 and made it to the Lord’s Honours Boards for his 129 in the second Test. He paired Rohit Sharma in the opening slot after Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal were unavailable for the Test series owing to different injuries.

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Manjrekar said Rahul’s injury is a huge blow for the Indian team but expects the middle-order comprising of Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari to step up in the rescheduled fifth Test.

Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar (Image Credit: Twitter)

“It was just the remarkable effort of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma at the top that saw India put up good enough scores to get the bowling to make a match out of it and get that scoreline 2-1.

“This time around, with KL Rahul missing out, it’s a massive setback for India. But there is hope in the selection of Shreyas Iyer, if he gets a game and hopefully Hanuma Vihari figures as well; Cheteshwar Pujara is making a comeback,” Manjrekar said in a virtual interaction organised by Sony Sports.

India currently leads the five-match series 2-1 and they have a great opportunity to win their first Test series in England since 2007.

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