The stage is set for a thrilling Test series between India and England, kicking off on June 20. Team India has already announced its squad, with Shubman Gill at the helm and Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain. But before the rest of the team heads to England, one senior player is set to make an early departure. KL Rahul is all set to fly out on June 6, a move that could give him a head start on his preparations.
According to a report in the Times of India, Rahul had initially planned to leave with the rest of the team. However, he requested the BCCI to let him play in the second first-class match between India A and England Lions, starting on June 6. The request was granted, and Rahul will now get a chance to fine-tune his game before the Test series.
Rahul’s decision to leave early is not entirely surprising. He had done something similar during the Australian tour, where he played for India A before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With the weather in Mumbai and Bengaluru not being conducive to practice, Rahul has opted to get a head start on his preparations in England.
India A vs England Lions Schedule
The first match between India A and England Lions started on May 30. Although captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to impress, Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan put up a solid show with the bat. The second first-class match starts on June 6, and Rahul is likely to join the likes of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan in the lineup.
Rahul’s Chance to Create History
Rahul has already scored 955 runs in 13 Tests against England. He needs just 45 more runs to become the 17th Indian batsman to reach 1,000 runs against England in Tests. If he achieves this feat, he will join the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, who have already reached this milestone. With his early departure, Rahul will have ample time to get accustomed to the English conditions and make a strong case for himself in the upcoming series.