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Why Does India Have 3 Wicket-Keepers For ENG Tests Alongside KL Rahul? Reason Revealed

image-lrdgo95sKL Rahul (Image Credits: AP Photos) 

KL Rahul kept wickets for India during the recent two-match Test series against South Africa. However, there were questions over whether he could fulfil a similar role in Indian conditions as well where the ball turns viciously.   

He was, recently, named in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England alongside two other wicket-keeper batters, such as KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel. According to a recent report by TOI, it has now been learned that KL Rahul has been selected only as a specialist batter in the squad and won’t be standing behind the wickets.

A BCCI source stated that team management doesn’t want the 31-year-old batter to burn him out by keeping wickets for the team on turning tracks in India.

“Rahul will play as a specialist batter from now on. While in overseas Tests you just have to stand back to the pacers, wicketkeeping in India, where spinners may operate in tandem, isn’t easy. The ball can bounce or turn viciously on the spin-friendly home wickets. You've got to keep moving up and down as a ’keeper. We want a specialist in that role." A source close to BCCI said.

"Rahul, on the other hand, is one of our most valuable batting assets. We don’t want to burn him out by making him do the glove-work as well. There is also a risk of him catching an injury while standing behind the stumps, which we can’t afford. Bharat and Jurel will be our wicketkeepers in this series."

KL Rahul announced his comeback in Test cricket with an outstanding hundred in the first Test against South Africa in Centurion. On a track where all the other Indian batters struggled, KL Rahul played a lone warrior's role and went on to score a century. He scored 101 runs in 137 balls, including 14 fours and 4 sixes.

He completed the two-match Test series as the fourth-highest run-getter, scoring 113 runs at 37.67. There is no doubt over Rahul's ability to play against spin, and, thus, he will be a vital cog in India’s middle-order for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.