IND vs ENG: KS Bharat certain for 1st Test as Rahul Dravid declares KL Rahul specialist batter for series

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IND vs ENG: KL Rahul will not play the 5-Test series against England as a wicketkeeper-batter, head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed on Tuesday, January 25. KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel have been named in the 16-member India squad as the two other wicketkeeper-batters.

The confirmation from Rahul Dravid has almost confirmed KS Bharat's spot in the India eleven for the first Test against Hyderabad from January 25 in Hyderabad. Bharat recently smashed a match-saving hundred for India A in the first Unofficial Test against England Lions.

Rahul Dravid praised Rahul for his efforts behind the stumps in the two-Test series in South Africa, but asserted that considering the spinning nature of the Indian pitches, a selection between Bharat and uncapped Dhruv Jurel will be made for the wicketkeeper-batter's slot.

"Rahul will not be playing as a wicketkeeper in this series and we are clear about that in the selection itself. We have picked two other wicket keepers and obviously Rahul did a fantastic job for us in South Africa and really played a big part in helping us draw the series," Dravid said in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

"But considering five Test matches and playing in these conditions the selection will be between the two other keepers we have," Dravid added.

Virat Kohli has withdrawn his name from the first two Tests because of personal reasons, and there is a possibility now that Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will both feature in the playing eleven alongside Bharat as the wicketkeeper-batter.

After Ishan Kishan took a break and pulled out of the South Africa Tests, KS Bharat was named in the squad as his replacement. However, KL Rahul donned the gloves in both the matches. Bharat last played for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in 2023.