India's star batter and vice captain KL Rahul is set to miss the one-off Test against England at Birmingham as the The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to send the 30-year-old to Germany for treatment. Rahul is yet to recover from a recurring groin injury which casts a strong doubt for his availability in England, where India will play seven games.
Meanwhile, India's red-ball squad has left for England to play the postponed fifth Test but the unavailability of skipper Rohit Sharma with the entire squad have left everyone wondering whether the veteran will play the Test or not.
The Indian team boarded flight to London in the on Thursday morning. Among the India players who were on that plane to London were Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, off-spinner R Ashwin, allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, pacers Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna, batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari and wicketkeeper KS Bharat.
Rahul going abroad has been confirmed by the BCCI. "That is correct, the board is working on his fitness and he will be going to Germany soon," BCCI secretary Jay Shah told Cricbuzz on Thursday (June 16). Rahul is likely to fly out to Germany by the end of this month or early July.
The selectors, however, will have to announce a vice-captain for the tour as the chances of Rahul taking part in any of the seven games are virtually ruled out. After the Edgbaston Test, India's white ball engagements span from July 7 and 17 with T20Is preceding the ODI series.
The Karnataka and Lucknow Super Giants cricketer, who has played in 43 Tests, 42 ODIs and 56 T20Is, has not played international cricket since February this year. He, however, managed to survive the wear and tear of the IPL.
India head coach Rahul Dravid will join the Indian team in England after the conclusion of the T20I series against South Africa on Sunday.
India will play England in one Test from July 1-5 at Edgbaston, and then three ODIs and as many T20Is.
