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KL Rahul Skips Vijay Hazare Trophy Knockouts; Opts Out Of Karnataka Squad

KL Rahul opted out of Karnataka's VHT knockout stage squad [Source: @sujeetsuman1991/X.com]KL Rahul opted out of Karnataka's VHT knockout stage squad [Source: @sujeetsuman1991/X.com]

KL Rahul, a key member of the Indian Test team and a Karnataka player for domestic games, will be absent from Karnataka's team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout stage. KL Rahul, who has shown grit in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a significant strength for Karnataka in his earlier seasons. 

However, the star batter, who played all five Tests in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, has requested a break following his intensive involvement in the gruelling series. KL Rahul scored 276 runs in the series at an average of  30.66, showcasing his resilience and adaptability across various positions in the batting order. 

Meanwhile, fast bowler V. Vyshak has also been ruled out of the tournament due to injury, weakening Karnataka's pace attack.

Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna To Participate

While other Indian players who featured in the Test series, such as Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna, are set to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts for Karnataka, Rahul's absence is understandable given his extensive workload. Padikkal, who played the first Test, and Prasidh Krishna, who joined the squad for the final Test, have had comparatively less demanding schedules during the series.

Karnataka, led by Mayank Agarwal, topped Group C in the league stage with six victories in seven matches, demonstrating their dominance in the tournament. Devdutt Padikkal, known for his explosive batting, holds the record for the highest run-scorer in Karnataka's Vijay Hazare Trophy history, amassing 737 runs in the 2020-21 season. 

Prasidh Krishna, with his pace and swing, has been a consistent wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 17 wickets in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The inclusion of these two experienced campaigners is expected to significantly bolster Karnataka's chances in the upcoming knockout rounds.

Karnataka Squad 

Mayank Agarwal (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Nikin Jose, K.V. Aneesh, R. Smaran, K.L. Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal (vc), Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, V. Koushik, Vidyadhar Patil, Abhilash Shetty, Pravin Dubey, Luvnith Sisodia, Yashovardhan Parantap.