KL Rahul Set to Feature in Second Warm-Up Match in England

Indian batter KL Rahul is set to board the plane to England for the second unofficial Test against England Lions. He reportedly asked the cricket board to be a part of the India A squad.

KL Rahul informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his desire to appear in the second unofficial Test in England. Playing in India A will prepare him for the official series against England starting June 20.

KL Rahul part of India A

The selection committee had initially named Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan in the India A squad for the second match. However, Gujarat Titans in the playoffs now have a chance to play Qualifier 2 and in the final. Both players are part of Gujarat Titans and might not make it in time.

Rahul, whose team Delhi Capitals is out of the tournament, made himself available to join the India A squad. He is set to leave for England on Monday.

“He will be flying on Monday and will be playing a second warm up game with the India A side. As he is part of the senior men’s team, which will be playing five Test matches in the series, these matches will give him game time and match practice,” source in the BCCI confirmed.

The Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India A will play the first match from May 30 in Canterbury. The second match will be played from June 6 in Northampton.

‘Test cricket is number one…’

In a recent interview to SkySports, Rahul had expressed his love for the red-ball format.

“I love red ball cricket. I mean you can’t take that away from me or anyone who’s part of that Indian team. Everyone that I’ve spoken to on that Indian team, we’re all on the same page as to Test cricket is number one for us. We love playing Test cricket and that hasn’t changed for me,” Rahul said.

“I grew up watching Test cricket. I grew up watching you guys play for England. I used to wake up at five in the morning and watch Test cricket in Australia with my father. He loved watching cricket as well,” he added.

Rahul has appeared in 58 Test matches so far with 18 of those against England. In those 18 matches, he has scored 807 runs at an average of 29.88, including 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries. His most memorable innings came at Lord’s in 2021, where he scored a brilliant 129 to set up a famous Indian victory.

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