IND vs ENG Test: Head Coach Rahul Dravid dropped an update as KL Rahul won’t be keeping wickets in the upcoming five-match India vs England Test series. Coach Dravid made it clear that Rahul will play as a pure batsman in the playing 11.
In a press conference, Rahul Dravid stated that the selection of KL Rahul was pre-determinately done as a batsman not as a keeper. He also mentioned that they have selected two other wicketkeeper batters to keep the wickets.
Rahul Dravid on KL Rahul
“Rahul will not be playing as a wicket-keeper in this series and we are clear about that in the selection itself. We have picked two other wicket-keepers and obviously Rahul did a fantastic job for us in South Africa and really played a big part in helping us draw the series,” said Dravid.
He also mentioned that instead of KL Rahul, KS Bharat, or Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets. “But considering five Test matches (against England) and playing in these conditions the selection will be between the two other keepers we have,” he explained.
Bharat, who made his Test debut against Australia at home in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has five red-ball matches under his belt and currently heads the race. His recent match-saving 116 not out against the England Lions in Ahmedabad strengthened his case quite a bit.
It is never going to be easy to be behind the wickets considering the nature of Indian pitches, which force wicketkeepers to stand close to stumps against spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. However, since Bharat is a designated keeper, he is best suited for the role.
Dravid on Pitch condition
The Indian pitches have always been a talking point whenever India host any red ball game. In addition, Rahul Dravid stated that he anticipates a turning track in Hyderabad. There are still two days until the game starts, but it seems that the length area for the spinners at each end was drier than the rest of the surface which indicates nothing but spin.
“It’s a hard one to say, so [we will] just have a look once it starts and figure it out. It looks a good one and may spin a little bit; how quickly and fast I am not sure, but it may spin a little bit as the game goes on,” he said.
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