India have been dealt a blow in the lead-up to the Rajkot Test against England with KL Rahul ruled out of contention due to a sore knee. He had missed the second Test in Visakhapatnam too after complaining of pain in his right quadriceps. India have called up Karnataka’s top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal as replacement.
Already light on batting experience with Virat Kohli missing due to personal reasons, Rahul’s absence further complicates matters for India, who also didn’t pick Shreyas Iyer for the remaining three Tests. That aside, it isn’t confirmed yet whether Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from the hamstring injury he had suffered during the first Test in Hyderabad. Jadeja is in the squad to play the game, which will take place on his home ground, but his participation is pending fitness clearance.
