Indian Test batsman KL Rahul will play the second warm-up game for India ‘A’, against the England Lions at Northampton from June 6. Rahul will fly out on Monday. Rahul, a member of the 18-member Test squad, informed the selectors that he will be available for the warm-up game as his IPL team, Delhi Capitals, had failed to qualify for the Qualifiers.
“He will be flying on Monday and will be playing a second warm up game with the India A side. As he is part of the senior men’s team, which will be playing five Test matches in the series, these matches will give him game time and match practice,” source in the BCCI confirmed.
India ‘A’ will play their first tour game from today in Canterbury. A full strength Indian team will also play an intra-squad match in Beckenham on June 13. The first Test starts in Leeds on June 20.
Rahul scored 255 runs in five Test matches in Australia where he averaged 30.66 and with two fifties. He looked solid in the first Test match in Perth where he scored 26 and 77 runs. It made captain change his batting position, from opener to No.6, when he returned for the second Test.
Rahul has played 58 Test matches for India and the visitors will be banking on his experience during the five Test match series in England.
In a recent interview to Sky Sports, Rahul had expressed his love for red-ball cricket. He had said, “I love red ball cricket. I mean you can’t take that away from me or anyone who’s part of that Indian team. Everyone that I’ve spoken to on that Indian team, we’re all on the same page as to Test cricket is number one for us. We love playing Test cricket and that hasn’t changed for me,” Rahul said.
He recalled how he used to keep track of Test matches in England and Australia during his early years.
“I grew up watching Test cricket. I grew up watching you guys play for England. I used to wake up at five in the morning and watch Test cricket in Australia with my father. He loved watching cricket as well,” he added.
