• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Why Is Kl Rahul Not Playing In 2Nd Test Vs New Zealand

Why Is KL Rahul Not Playing In 2nd Test Vs New Zealand?

KL Rahul excluded from playing 11 [Source: PTI]KL Rahul excluded from playing 11 [Source: PTI]

Well, the inevitable has happened as KL Rahul is not included in the playing XI for the second Test Vs New Zealand in Pune. There were speculations that KL might be dropped for the crucial game after his poor outing in Bengaluru, and that's just what has happened.

At toss time, captain Rohit Sharma stated that KL Rahul will sit out for this Test match, a decision which raised quite a few eyebrows. Despite a poor outing in the first Test, KL Rahul has been brilliant in red-ball cricket, scoring a hundred Vs South Africa at Centurion, and played some good cricket against the visiting England side before getting ruled out due to an injury.

However, post his return, he was the only player from India who failed in both the innings, and with Shubman Gill coming back in, Team India had no choice but to drop the middle-order batter.

Sarfaraz Khan keeps his place after a stunning 150 against the Kiwis in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test match.

Siraj, Kuldeep also removed!

India have taken another bold call by dropping Mohammed Siraj for the Test match. Over the last few home Tests, Siraj has failed to create an impact and thus, Rohit Sharma took the decision to axe him from the playing XI.

Even on a seaming deck in the Bengaluru Test, the seamer only took 2 wickets as New Zealand cruised to victory with ease. In his place, Akash Deep comes back in the side. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav has also been dropped from the side and the man in-form, Washington Sundar replaces him in the playing XI, as India have also strengthened their batting.