KL Rahul out from Ind vs WI T20I series

KL Rahul is unlikely to travel to the West Indies for the Ind vs WI five-match T20I series, as earlier anticipated. KL Rahul out from Ind vs WI T20I series. Star India batter K.L. Rahul on July 21 tested positive for COVID-19 and is likely to be ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20 series against the West Indies, starting July 29 at Tarouba.

As per reports the isolation period for Rahul, who had tested positive for Covid-19 last week, ends today, he has been advised one more week’s rest and recuperation by the BCCI’s medical professionals. Rahul had been recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru since undergoing a sports hernia surgery in late June. He was understood to be a doubt for the T20I leg of the West Indies tour even if he returned the two mandatory negative tests

Depending on the outcome of his cardiovascular tests, Rahul could have been in consideration for the USA leg of the West Indies T20Is, on August 6 and 7. But now it appears certain that he will skip the tour altogether and instead focus on the ODIs in Zimbabwe, which are part of the World Cup Super League. India have already qualified for the 2023 ODI World Cup by virtue of being the hosts of the tournament.

Rahul on Thursday itself had addressed the candidates, who attended the Level-3 coach certification course at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Rahul, who underwent a hernia operation in Germany recently, was rested for the ODI series against the West Indies starting Friday at Port of Spain. Ganguly also informed that a member of the Commonwealth Games-bound India women’s team was also down with COVID-19. He, however, did not disclose the name of the player.

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Dhawan had earlier led India to Sri Lanka for an ODI series last year. Regular skipper Rohit Sharma, senior batter Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, who led India in the rescheduled fifth Test against England, and Mohammed Shami have all been rested. It has opened a window of opportunity for the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan to make their presence felt.

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India squad vs. West Indies

Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.