'KL Rahul Won't be Playing as Wicketkeeper During England Tests': India Head Coach Dravid Confirms

India will again be shifting their focus on the red-ball format with the first Test against England slated to get underway from Thursday in Hyderabad. Ahead of the opening fixture of the five-match series, India head coach Rahul Dravid has confirmed the role of KL Rahul, stating he won’t be keeping wickets in the entire series.

Rahul has been assigned the stumper’s duties since his return from injury last year at the Asia Cup. He donned the keeping gloves in the entire ICC ODI World Cup 2023 followed by the ODI series in South Africa and the subsequent two-match Test series against the hosts which ended 1-1.

The selectors earlier picked Rahul along with Kona Srikar Bharat and uncapped keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel in the squad for the first two Tests. However, the team management wants to have a specialist ‘keeper in the mix and thus, Bharat is likely to get the responsibility when India take on England at the Uppal Stadium on Thursday.

Addressing media on Tuesday in Hyderabad, Dravid said while Rahul has been impressive behind the stumps, the squad has two specialist wicketkeepers who will be preferred for the role.

“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,” Dravid said.

“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.

Rahul has kept wickets only thrice in his 92 First-Class matches and none of those appearances came in India. Considering that, it wouldn’t have been a great decision to pick him as a wicketkeeper against England.

On the other hand, Bharat, who stepped in the absence of Rishabh Pant, has done reasonably well behind the wickets. Though he is yet to leave an impact with the bat, his efforts behind the wickets cannot be brushed aside. From 91 First-Class matches, of which 82 have been in India, Bharat has affected 287 catches and 33 stumpings.