KL Rahul Requests Break, Excludes Himself from England Series Selection
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KL Rahul has opted to take a hiatus from cricket following a taxing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, both physically and mentally. He has reportedly communicated to the BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, his desire to be excused from the upcoming limited-overs series against England, which is set to commence on January 22 in Kolkata. This home series includes five T20 matches and three One Day Internationals, which hold particular importance as they precede the Champions Trophy, scheduled to begin on February 19.
Notably, Rahul, who is no longer seen as a guaranteed selection in the ODI lineup with the return of Rishabh Pant and the inclusion of Sanju Samson, has indicated to the selectors that he will be available for the Champions Trophy. India is set to play all their matches in Dubai, while the remaining games will take place in the host nation, Pakistan.
A BCCI source informed PTI on Thursday, "He has requested a break for the England series, but he will be available for selection for the Champions Trophy."
Despite the struggles of the Indian batting lineup during the Test series in Australia, Rahul managed to stand out as one of the few players to score runs. He finished as the third-highest run-scorer for India, amassing 276 runs in 10 innings at an average of 30.66. However, his tour did not conclude on a high note. Initially selected as a No. 6 batsman, he was moved to the top of the order when captain Rohit Sharma was unavailable due to personal matters. Rahul showcased commendable discipline in both innings of the Perth Test, prompting Rohit to adjust his position for the subsequent two Tests to accommodate Rahul at the top. Unfortunately, his form declined towards the end of the series, which was mirrored in India's overall performance as they lost the final two Tests, resulting in a series defeat of 1-3.
Samson Pant is advocating for Rahul's inclusion in the Champions Trophy team
Rahul, despite being higher in the hierarchy, is competing for the wicketkeeper-batter position in the Champions Trophy squad against Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. Although Pant has not made a significant impact in limited-overs cricket, he was chosen over Rahul for the most recent ODI in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Samson's impressive recent performances in T20 internationals position him as a formidable candidate for the second wicketkeeper role.
Additionally, Rahul has requested to be rested from Karnataka's matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with their quarterfinal scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
It is 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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