cricket

Updated: Jun 29, 2020 08:00 IST

KL Rahul has been dropped from India’s 15-member squad for their upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors put faith in Rohit Sharma. Youngster Shubman Gill received his maiden Test call-up and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad stated he can also act as a back-up opener to Rohit and Mayank Agarwal in the series against Proteas, which start from October 2 at Visakhapatanam.

Also Read: Will Men in Blue record first win against the Proteas in T20Is at home?

Rahul has struggled for form in the longest form and the selectors’ patience finally ran out following the right-hander’s dismal performance in West Indies. Rahul managed to score just 664 runs in his last 30 Test innings and his only notable score was 149 against England at the Oval last year, coming in a dead fifth rubber.

Also Watch | Cheteshwar Pujara reveals what makes KL Rahul so special

Also Read: From match-fixing to Sachin’s alleged ball-tampering - 5 biggest controversies of IND-SA series

Prasad stated that Rahul is a talented cricketer but because of his poor form in red-ball cricket, he has been dropped for the South Africa series. Moreover, the chief of selectors took the name of former India cricketer VVS Laxman and asked Rahul to follow his example in his bid to get back into the Test team.

“We definitely communicated to KL. He is an exceptional talent and unfortunately his form has dipped in red-ball cricket,” Prasad said during press-conference after selection meet in New Delhi. “With Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay gone, we can’t keep changing both the openers in the side.”

Also Read: Opening opportunity in Tests can be a double-edged sword for Rohit Sharma

“Someone had to stick around. And probably with seniors, who exiting, KL got more opportunities. Unfortunately, he was not delivering consistently. He delivered in patches and that’s why we backed him because when he is on song, he is treat to watch.”

“When VVS Laxman was once dropped from the Indian team, he went back to domestic cricket, scored 1400 runs in the Ranji Trophy and came back,” Prasad added.

India’s Test Squad: Virat Kohli (Capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk),Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill