The selection committee of the BCCI, led by former fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, has opted to decline KL Rahul's request for a break from the upcoming white-ball home series against England, which commences on January 22 in Kolkata with a five-match T20I series. Rahul, who is no longer considered for T20Is, had reportedly sought a respite from the ODIs as well, following a demanding Border-Gavaskar Trophy in which he was among the few Indian batsmen who appeared at ease against the pace and bounce of the Australian bowlers. Initially, the selection committee had agreed to Rahul's request; however, a report in The Times of India on Saturday indicated a change in their decision.

According to the report, the Agarkar-led committee "had a rethink" and has now requested Rahul to be available for the ODI series against England, which is set to begin on February 6. This three-match ODI series presents an opportunity for India to finalize their lineup for the Champions Trophy, scheduled to start on February 19.

"The selectors had initially planned to rest Rahul, who occupies a middle-order position and serves as a wicketkeeper in ODIs, from the entire white-ball series against England at home. However, they reconsidered, and the BCCI has now requested him to participate in the ODI series to ensure he gains match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy in February," the source stated in the report.

Why KL Rahul's request was rejected by BCCI

The rationale behind the rejection of KL Rahul's request by the BCCI was to provide him with essential match practice, as he is slightly favored over Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as the primary wicketkeeper for ODIs. Despite being dropped for the final ODI against Sri Lanka, which was India's last 50-over match, Rahul's performances in the ODI World Cup in 2023 and the previous year are likely to give him an advantage.

Given that India has not played an ODI since August 7, the selectors deem it crucial for a key player like Rahul to be available for the series against England.

While the prominent Indian batting lineup faltered during the Test series in Australia, Rahul emerged as one of the few players to score runs. He ranked as the third-highest run-scorer for India, accumulating 276 runs across 10 innings with an average of 30.66.

Additionally, Rahul requested to be rested from Karnataka's matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with their quarterfinal scheduled for the upcoming weekend.

It remains uncertain whether he will participate in Karnataka's Ranji Trophy campaign, as head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for all Indian players following the series defeat in Australia.

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