In a setback for Team India, batsman K.L. Rahul has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing Test series against Australia due to an injury on his left wrist.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement to the media that the 28-year-old sprained his left wrist during a training session in Melbourne.
“K.L. Rahul sprained his left wrist while batting in the nets at the MCG during Team India’s practice session on Saturday,” the statement read.
“The wicketkeeper-batsman will not be available for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he will need about three weeks’ time to recover completely and regain full strength,” it added.
Rahul is expected to return to India to begin his rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), the statement further said.
India scripted a remarkable comeback in the Test series at Melbourne, winning the second match by eight wickets, after a humiliating loss in Adelaide. However, the visitors are still without their captain Virat Kohli, who is on paternity leave, and Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have also been ruled out due to injuries.
The injury also puts Rahul in doubt for the four-match home Test series against England, which begins February 5.
However, the right-hand batsman’s departure will effectively mean that Mayank Agarwal or Hanuma Vihari will save their place in the playing XI depending on where vice-captain Rohit Sharma bats.
Rahul had not played any match of the ongoing series. He played three matches in the One Day International series earlier, which Australia won 2-1. He scored 93 runs at an average of 31 with a high score of 76 in the ODI series while managing 81 runs in the three-match T20 series, which India won 2-1.
India and Australia will face off in the third Test in Sydney, beginning from Thursday. The series is currently level at 1-1.
