India's vice-captain KL Rahul is set to miss out on the five-match T20I series after being advised to take rest following his Covid-19 affliction last week. According to reports by ESPNCricinfo, Rahul, who tested positive for Corona, completes his isolation period on July 27. But has been advised one more week's rest and recuperation by the BCCI's medical professionals.
KL Rahul was supposed to travel to the Windies Islands for the five-match T20I series but will not be a part of the team. He has been recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after undergoing surgery for his sports hernia injury in June and was already a doubt for the T20I leg of the Caribbean tour even if he returned the two mandatory negative tests.
He will now be aiming to make his international return during the ODI series in Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue are set to play three ODIs on August 18, 20 and 22 in Harare, with the series being a part of the World Cup Super League.
Earlier, the wicketkeeper-batter could have made his return to the national team on the basis of the outcome of his cardiovascular tests for the USA leg of the West Indies T20Is, on August 6 and 7. But it is more likely that he will skip the tour altogether and focus on the ODIs in Zimbabwe, which are a part of the World Cup Super League.
India have already qualified for the 2023 ODI World Cup by virtue of hosting the tournament. The ODI series will finish less than a week before the start of the 2022 Asia Cup, which will be played between August 27 and September 11 in the UAE.
Meanwhile, Rahul has not played any competitive cricket since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 Eliminator on May 25, when his team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Kolkata. He was then named as the captain for the five-match T20I series at home against South Africa but was ruled out on the eve of the series after sustaining a right groin injury, ruling him out of any international cricket that India played after the South African team.
Rahul underwent a sports hernia surgery in June and was in a race against time to prove his fitness for the West Indies T20Is. Now, it looks like he will have to wait for some more time for his comeback.
India are currently leading the three-match ODI series in the West Indies 2-0, with one match to go.
