While KL Rahul has been ruled out, what is the fitness status of Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the India vs England 3rd Test?
The BCCI’s press release did not include any information regarding Ravindra Jadeja’s fitness status or his potential availability for selection in the third Test against England in Rajkot.
In another significant setback to India’s batting lineup for the third Test against England, KL Rahul’s absence persisted after he failed to recuperate from his injury, which had sidelined him from the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Rahul, whose participation in the remaining three Test matches of the series hinged on his fitness, was officially ruled out on Monday, with the BCCI’s selection committee naming Devdutt Padikkal, another Karnataka batsman, as his replacement. However, the fitness status of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose inclusion in the Rajkot match was contingent on his fitness, remains uncertain.
The selectors announced a 17-man squad for the last three Tests against England last week. Shreyas Iyer was omitted from the team due to a series of disappointing performances with the bat. However, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul were included in the squad, pending clearance from the BCCI’s medical team regarding their fitness. Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury during the first Test in Hyderabad, while Rahul reported quadriceps discomfort after the match, resulting in both senior players being sidelined for the second game in Visakhapatnam.
However, Rahul did not recuperate sufficiently for the Rajkot Test, and he will remain at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to continue his rehabilitation. “Rahul has achieved 90 percent match fitness and is making good progress under the guidance of the BCCI Medical Team. He will continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to ensure he is fully match-fit for the fourth and fifth Tests,” stated the BCCI.
Is Ravindra Jadeja available for selection in 3rd Test against England?
The BCCI’s press release, however, made no reference to Jadeja’s fitness condition or his eligibility for selection in the third Test against England in Rajkot. However, his name, when listed as part of the “updated squad,” was marked with an asterisk, akin to the original squad announcement for the last three Tests against Ben Stokes’ team. This asterisk indicated that “participation is contingent upon fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.”
In contrast to Rahul, who was absent in Rajkot for the third Test, a report from PTI disclosed that Jadeja linked up with the Indian squad, which held its inaugural practice session for the match on Monday.
“A senior source from BCCI, speaking anonymously, informed PTI that KL Rahul has not yet arrived in Rajkot. However, Ravindra Jadeja, the local player, has joined the team. His inclusion was always contingent upon fitness, and the BCCI medical team still lacks confidence in his readiness for match conditions,” the source stated.
If Jadeja is indeed deemed fit for inclusion, he will immediately secure a place in the Indian playing XI, resulting in either all-rounder Axar Patel or leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav having to be left out for the third Test.
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