IND vs ENG 2024: Whom will KL Rahul replace in 4th Test?

Indian veteran batter KL Rahul is likely to recover in time to participate in the fourth Test match against England, which will commence on Friday (February 23) in Ranchi.

Rahul played the first Test match but then went on to miss the next two due to a problem with his quadriceps. He looked in good touch and scored 108 runs in both the innings combined.

His return will bolster the Men in Blue’s already strong batting line-up. His experience will come in handy in the penultimate match. But who will be sacrificed to make way for him? Let’s find out.

While the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal is untouchable, Shubman Gill has also started performing at no. 3 position. KL will not be keeping the wickets meaning Dhruv Jurel’s place is secured.

Now it comes down to two men middle-order batters Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar. To break it down further, the former was impressive in his debut match while the latter is still liable to play a good knock.

Sarfaraz smashed fifties in both the innings and proved why he is rated so highly. Patidar, on the other hand, has managed to accumulate only 46 runs in two Test matches so far.

So it becomes evident that the management would prefer benching Rajat Patidar to fit in KL Rahul. The inclusion of the Bengaluru-based batter will strengthen the batting unit further.

Will India seal the series?

The Men in Blue are leading the five-match series 2-1 and will look to take the unassailable lead of 3-1 after the fourth Test match. On the opposite side, England need to win or at least draw the match to remain alive in the series.

Reportedly, Rohit Sharma & Co. are planning to rest ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to keep him fresh for the final Test match. It will surely be a big relief for the English batters, especially Joe Root.