India coach Rahul Dravid has confirmed that KL Rahul will not keep wicket during the five-Test series against England that begins in Hyderabad on Thursday. One of KS Bharat or the uncapped Dhruv Jurel will take the keeping gloves.
Rahul was the designated wicketkeeper during India’s most recent Test series, in South Africa in December-January, but Dravid said the home conditions meant a more specialist keeper was needed.
“Rahul will not be playing as a wicketkeeper in this series and we are clear about that in the selection itself,” Dravid said in Hyderabad on Tuesday. “We have picked two other wicketkeepers and obviously Rahul did a fantastic job for us in South Africa and really played a big part in helping us draw the series.
“But considering five Test matches and playing in these conditions the selection will be between the two other keepers we have.”
Bharat was India’s wicketkeeper during their previous home series, against Australia in February and March 2023, as well as the World Test Championship final in June. Ishan Kishan was the wicketkeeper during the two-Test series in the West Indies that followed but he is currently on a break from international cricket.
More to follow…