KL Rahul likely to miss T20Is against West Indies after testing positive for coronavirus
India are likely to be without their regular vice-captain KL Rahul for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies in the Caribbean and the USA, as the flamboyant cricketer has been found coronavirus positive while he was about to make a return to top flight cricket for the first time since the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
KL Rahul had spent a considerable amount of time away from cricket — also missing India’s recent tour to England for one-off Test and limited-overs series — nursing a sports hernia trouble and he was based in his hometown, Bangalore, training and recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The India vice-captain had travelled to Germany for the operation after the end of the IPL 2022 tournament.
It was expected that the wicketkeeper-batsman, who led the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) impressively in their maiden IPL 2022 campaign earlier this year, would link up with the Indian team in the Caribbean. Now, the right-handed batsman will be expected to make his India comeback on the tour of Zimbabwe next month.
India are set to tour Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series to be played on August 18, 20 and 22 with all matches set to be played in Harare. The series between India and Zimbabwe will be a part of the ODI Super League.
Additionally, reports have added that Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav will be available for selection in the India side after he recovered from a hairline fracture on his right wrist, which had forced him off the series at home against South Africa.
The Indian team, meanwhile, will be starting off their tour of the West Indies on Friday with the first ODI to be played at the Port of Spain in Trinidad.
India will play 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is on this tour, where they are without their regular leadership pair of Rohit Sharma (rested) and KL Rahul. Shikhar Dhawan will be India’s captain in the Caribbean and Rishabh Pant will be his deputy.
India have also rested their out of form former captain Virat Kohli, who had a forgettable time with the bat in England and will be expected to make a comeback for the Asia Cup 2022 to be played late next month in Sri Lanka.
