IND vs WI: Here's Why KL Rahul Will Miss The First ODI Against West Indies In Ahmedabad

India take on West Indies in a three-match ODI series with the first game scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on February 6. KL Rahul will miss the game owing to personal commitments. He will be available from the second ODI on February 09. The final ODI will also be held in Ahmedabad on February 11. Both teams then travel to Kolkata for a three-match T20I series between February 16-20.

KL Rahul recently led India in Test and ODI matches in South Africa. While India lost the Test match under him. they were whitewashed in the ODIs. He will be missing the first ODI due to his sister’s wedding. He was very close to being recalled after Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer – tested positive for COVID-19. Mayank Agarwal was added to the Indian ODI squad as cover which allowed Rahul to be available at his sister’s wedding.

KL Rahul To Be Available From Second ODI Against West Indies

The exact date of KL Rahul’s sister’s marriage is not yet known. However, the Indian cricketer will be available for the second ODI to be played on February 9. He will join the team on February 6 to complete a mandatory isolation period of three days.

Following the Covid break out in the Indian camp, the side has only five specialist batsmen in the line-up. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and allrounder Deepak Hooda are the players who will be a part of the playing XI. Mayank was added to the squad on Wednesday and he will reach Ahmedabad on Thursday, February 03. The Indian team is under mandatory quarantine ahead of the first ODI on February 6.

“Every member was also asked to undergo an RT-PCR test at home before embarking on their journey to Ahmedabad and the travel was undertaken only after testing negative,” the BCCI clarified.

Meanwhile, a Cricket West Indies official confirmed that there are no Covid cases in the visitors’ camp. They recently won a T20I series against England. A Test series will follow the T20Is.

“We were all negative before we left Barbados. And all negative on our arrival tests at the airport yesterday in Ahmedabad. We are in room isolation on a separate floor to the Indian team as per the protocols,” the top-ranked official told Cricbuzz.

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