The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked Indian wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul to play in the three-match ODI series against England in February. Notably, KL Rahul was originally supposed to rest until the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be played in Pakistan and Dubai.
India will be seen in action against England at home, including five T20Is and three ODIs, starting on January 22. However, the lineups for these matches have yet to be announced. The ODI series is important for India as it is their last chance to fine-tune their preparations for the Champions Trophy.
After the ODI series against England, India have no further ODI matches scheduled before the Champions Trophy. Namely, the team for the series in England is expected to contain players who are strong candidates for selection in the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19.
BCCI asks KL Rahul to play in England ODI series
According to The Times of India, BCCI has asked KL Rahul to play in the three-match ODI series against England to get match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Rahul, who plays as a middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper in ODIs, was initially supposed to rest throughout the white-ball series. However, the selectors changed their mind and decided to include him in the ODI team.
According to The Times of India, BCCI has asked Rahul to play in the three-match ODI series against England to get match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy.
KL Rahul, who plays as a middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper in ODIs, was initially supposed to rest throughout the white-ball series. However, the selectors changed their mind and decided to include him in the ODI team.
KL Rahul finished as India’s third highest run-getter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rahul was India’s third highest run-getter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he scored 276 runs in 10 innings at an average of 30.66. He opted out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout matches in Karnataka, which began in Vadodara.
According to reports, players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj would be rested for the white-ball series against England. Rahul has not featured in India’s T20 team recently, but remains the best wicket-keeper batsman in ODIs, consistently featuring in the middle order.
KL Rahul was the no. 1 Wicketkeeper-Batter in India in ODIs
After Rishabh Pant was sidelined due to a car accident in December 2022, Rahul was given the responsibility of wicketkeeper for the Indian cricket team. In 2023, Rahul scored 1060 runs from 27 ODIs at a strike rate of 87.74, including two centuries and seven fifties.
In 2024, when India focused more on T20Is and Tests, both Rahul and Pant played fewer ODIs. After the England series, India will travel to Dubai for the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19. India will play their matches in Dubai, including the knockout matches if they qualify.
