KL Rahul ruled out of Rajkot Test; Devdutt Padikkal to replace

India middle-order batter KL Rahul will have to sit out the third Test against England in Rajkot due to a right quadriceps injury. Devdutt Padikkal has been named as his replacement in the squad.

Rahul along with Jasprit Bumrah were slated to link up with the India squad in Rajkot on Monday but the experienced batter is still at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and his omission is largely precautionary. Rahul missed the Visakhapatnam Test and had been named as part of the squad for the last three Tests subject to fitness.

England too have lost a key player to injury. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach has been sidelined from the remainder of the Test series against India. Leach had sustained a knee injury during the opening Test of the series in Hyderabad after which he missed the second fixture in Vizag. England have decided not to name a replacement.