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Ahead of the much-awaited five-match Test series against England, India's head coach Rahul Dravid announced that KL Rahul will not be assuming wicketkeeping duties. Instead, the team is considering KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel for the wicketkeeper-batter role. This decision follows KL Rahul's recent stint as the wicketkeeper in the series against South Africa, where he displayed commendable skills behind the stumps. The series against England is set to commence this Thursday.
"Rahul will not be playing as a wicket-keeper in this series and we are clear about that in the selection itself. We have picked two other wicket-keepers and obviously Rahul did a fantastic job for us in South Africa and really played a big part in helping us draw the series," Dravid said in a press conference here.
"But considering five Test matches (against England) and playing in these conditions the selection will be between the two other keepers we have," he explained.
The nature of Indian pitches, particularly their tendency to assist spinners like R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, necessitates a specialist wicketkeeper capable of adeptly standing up to the wickets. Rahul, despite his agility as a keeper, has only thrice been the designated wicketkeeper in his 92 First-Class matches, none of which were in India. This background makes his selection for the wicketkeeper role against England's aggressive 'Bazball' style of cricket less favorable, as the approach may present numerous opportunities for the gloveman.
KS Bharat, who stepped up following Rishabh Pant’s car accident, has made a significant impact in the wicketkeeping role. Bharat's proficiency behind the stumps has been well-recognized, even if his batting hasn't yet made a significant mark. His First-Class career, including 91 matches with 82 in India, boasts of 287 catches and 33 stumpings, underscoring his expertise as a keeper.
While Dhruv Jurel remains a relatively inexperienced option, Bharat's recent performance, including an unbeaten 116 in the first unofficial 'Test' against England Lions at Ahmedabad, enhances his prospects of being the chosen wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming series. His performance in Ahmedabad, in particular, might have positively influenced the team management's perception of him.
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